“Disappearing” Osteochondroma A Case Report

Osteochondroma is the most frequent benign tumor of the bone. Its migration is well-known but its spontaneous disappearance is rarely reported.A three years and nine months follow-up study of an osteochondroma occurring in the left humerus of a one-year-old boy is reported.The broad-based lump was located on the anteromedial aspect of the left humerus at the proximal diaphysis. The diagnosis of solitary osteochondroma was made roentgenographycally. The lesion was followed with roentgenograms without treatment.Roentgenograms made three months later showed no apparent change in the lesion, but subsequent roentgenograms made fourteen and twenty-four months after the initial roentgenograms showed the gradual regression of the lesion. The final roentgenograms made three years and nine months after the initial roentgenograms showed the lesion to have completely disappeared without surgical intervention.Spontaneous resolution or regression of osteochondromas is rarely recorded, but it is suggested that it may be more frequent.