[Intra-thoracic costal sites of osteogenic exostoses in the child].

OBJECTIVE

The authors report 2 cases of internal costal exostosis in children.

METHODS

Case 1: A 15-year-old boy with hereditary multiple exostosis presented for chest pain. Radiograph and CT scan showed an internal rib exostosis. It was removed by thoracotomy. Eighteen months later, the child was painfree. Case 2: An-11-year old boy presented with fever and a headache. A chest radiograph showed an image of pulmonary opacity interpreted as a pneumonia. The child was admitted for antibiotic therapy. Two months later, X-ray lesion persisted and a CT-scan was obtained. It showed a solitary costal internal exostosis which was removed by thoracotomy. At 12 months follow-up, he was asymptomatic.

CONCLUSIONS

Internal costal exostosis can induce some complications such as hemothorax, diaphragmatic or pericardic wounds. In case of symptomatic exostosis, the authors recommend a surgical removal to avoid severe complications. If the exostosis is asymptomatic, abstention can be recommend. As a matter of fact, hemothorax, for instance, can occur even due to a round and smooth exostosis without any history of trauma.