Headache due to an osteochondroma of the axis.

Abstract

We reported a case of a 42-year-old man with a 3-year history of headache due to a spinal osteochondroma. Repeated neurological evaluation, including EEG studies and CT of the cerebrum, revealed no pathology. More recently the patient presented with persistent headache and a slight limitation of neck motion. MRI studies of the cerebrum including the cervical spine showed a high cervical extradural tumor. Additional CT angiography showed a bony tumor suspected of being a spinal osteochondroma. An en bloc resection of the tumor was performed; histological evaluation confirmed the diagnosis. Immediately after intervention, all symptoms disappeared. In most patients with a spinal osteochondroma, the lesion causes no symptoms, or symptoms are aspecific. Therefore, there is often a significant delay between initial complaints and the diagnosis, as in the current case.