Enchondroma of the Thoracic Spine: Case Report and Review of Literature

Enchondroma is a common benign bone tumor primarily of the appendicular skeleton and distal upper extremities. Although generally asymptomatic, enchondromas share radiographic and histologic characteristics with the more malignant chondrosarcoma, thereby necessitating further investigation. We report the case of a 31-year-old male who presented with a mid-back deformity with imaging notable for a large mid-thoracic spinous process lesion. Gross and microscopic pathology were consistent with an enchondroma of the thoracic spine. A review of the literature to characterize the treatment approaches and outcomes for this condition was performed. Though uncommon, enchondroma is an important diagnostic consideration in the workup of bony spinous process lesions. Excellent outcome is achievable with surgical resection.