Spontaneous Hemothorax, A Rare Face of Vertebral Osteochondroma

Publication date: Available online 3 March 2017
Source:The Journal of Emergency Medicine
Author(s): Sarah Sainte, Herbert Decaluwé, Peter Vanbrabant
BackgroundOsteochondroma is the most common benign tumor of the bone. It is usually asymptomatic, but complications may result from mechanical injury to adjacent anatomic structures, such as the diaphragm and lung, when located intrathoracically.Case ReportWe report the unusual occurrence of a large hemothorax and lacerated right diaphragm in a 41-year-old woman caused by vertebral osteochondroma affecting the eleventh thoracic vertebra. Thoracoscopic exploration with resection of the osteochondroma and repair of the diaphragm was performed.Why Should an Emergency Physician Be Aware of This?Spontaneous hemothorax is a potential life-threatening condition when the initial diagnosis is postponed and hemodynamic instability and hypovolemic shock occurs. Osteochondroma as a cause of spontaneous hemothorax is uncommon but may require urgent surgical intervention with video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery of thoracotomy to control the hemorrhage and prevent recurrence.



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