Abstract

The aim of this paper is to report an exceptional case of bilateral scapular osteochondromas in an African- American adolescent patient affected by Multiple Hereditary Exostoses (MHE) coming to our observation for multiple bone swelling and deformities in the upper and lower limbs, progressively evolving for more than 10 years. A 17-year-old adolescent had not been able to consult medical training in time because of the precarious socio-economic conditions. He is the youngest of 8 children and was born to an active term pregnancy, complicated by heavy bleeding during the second trimester. The family history of multiple osteochondromas was unremarkable. Standard radiographs of the front thorax and the spine, pelvis, shoulder blades, revealed opaque bony growths in the two shoulder blades.
The surgical excesses proposed with biopsy sampling of these exostoses were not carried out due to insufficient financial means. However, we explained to the patient the probable risk of malignancy of osteochondromas in adolescents and adults and asked him to strictly adhere to the appointment for clinical and radiological monitoring of his osteochondromas

Keywords: Hereditary multiple exostosis; Bilateral scapular osteochondromas; African-American adolescent; DRC