Solitary osteochondroma of the cervical spine.

Solitary osteochondroma of the cervical spine is extremely rare. We reviewed the literature on this disorder, studied a case of an osteochondroma arising from the bony margin of the foramen transversarium of the sixth cervical vertebra, and concluded that osteochondroma should be considered in the differential diagnosis of a palpable mass in the neck. Despite the benign histologic nature of osteochondromata, those located in the cervical spine in proximity to vital vascular and neurologic structures should be excised surgically.