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Headache due to an osteochondroma of the axis

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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.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Vrije Universiteit Medical Center, P.O. Box 7057, 1007, MB Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    J. W. M. Kouwenhoven & P. I. J. M. Wuisman

  2. Department of Neurosurgery, Vrije Universiteit Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    J. F. Ploegmakers

Authors
  1. J. W. M. Kouwenhoven
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  2. P. I. J. M. Wuisman
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  3. J. F. Ploegmakers
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Kouwenhoven, J.W.M., Wuisman, P.I.J.M. & Ploegmakers, J.F. Headache due to an osteochondroma of the axis. Eur Spine J 13, 746–749 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-004-0741-1

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00586-004-0741-1

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