Rib osteochondroma in a child: case report and review of literature.

Osteochondromas are the most common benign tumors of the skeleton. They usually arises from the metaphysial region of long bones. Only 10% of rib tumors are benign, and osteochondromas, account for half of these. These tumors typically begin to grow before puberty and continue until bone maturation is reached. We discuss a case of a 7-year-old boy found on physical examination to have a painless bony swelling arising as an outgrowth from the left fourth rib. Patient was taken to the operation room for a radical excision. CT scan and histopathological examination confirmed that the lesion was a non malignant osteochondroma. Costal osteochondroma is a rare but important condition to recognize due to its complications, such as reduced range of movement, pain, cosmetic abnormalities and bursitis. Costal osteochondromas tend to grow into the chest cavity and such lesions are rarely exophytic. There have been no previous reports of exophytic costal osteochondroma of this size in a child.