Exostosis of proximal femur – benign tumor, “malign” location: a case report

Overview

Osteocartilaginous exostosis, also called osteochondroma, is a benign bone tumor for most localized near the epiphyseal plate. It is the most common bone tumor, representing about 20–50 % of all benign bone tumors. Its radiological image is very typical – it is most often a pediculate formation with a cartilaginous cap. Osteochondromas can be solitary, cases of multiple occurrence are called hereditary multiple enchondromatosis (HME). Histologically it is categorized as a benign affection, clinically presenting with pain, a local palpable mass and restriction of movement. Histological malignization of the tumor is rare, reported in 1 % of cases. In the tumor can however be considered malignant in cases of adverse localization. In this article we present the case of a 15-year-old boy with an exostosis of the proximal femur with a prominent ischiofemoral impingement syndrome. After a biopsy and a partial resection, the tumor was treated via the surgical hip dislocation technique, which allows access to the femoral head without compromising its nutritional blood vessels. After a radical resection, the patient has been monitored for 4 years and his clinical and radiological condition is satisfactory.

Keywords:

proximal femur – surgical hip dislocation – exostosis – osteochondroma