hemangioma of the sternum

[duke40]

I recently had several extensive MRI's with and without contrast and a well circumscribed lesion was identified within the manubrium of the sternum. (2.5cm)  Long story short was sent to an orthopedic bone specialist and they did a CT scan and they diagnosed this as a hemangioma.  Prior to knowing I had this, when I would bend over to pick up something on the floor I would feel like something was sticking me in the chest.  Now certain ways I move I can feel it.  Mostly its a discomfort I feel there in my chest.  Sometimes it can be a sharp pain that comes and goes, somedays I hardly feel it at all.  Dull achey pain.   The specialist said the consenses with all my MRI's and the CT scan the bone integrity looked good the bone does not appear to be destroyed .  Looks to be innocent.  I have another one within the distal cord just above the tip of the conus at the T12level that they thought it to be a syrinx, which I went to a neurosurgeon and he said it was fine.  The bone specialist called it a hemangioma too.  Should I get a second opinion from a thoracic surgeon?  Is this something that I should have checked periodically or should it be biospyed?  They did not think it needed to be because it had not done anything to my bone.

[eurolady]

  I fell 5 weeks ago. ,xray looked ok ,but sharp pain when bending and moving did not go away. A cat scan with iodine showed a lesion on my sternum.Now I have to wait 10 days to get  bone scan with radioactive injection.  my physican told me its either cancer or not.  I am terrified in Sacramento.J.

[S. Kaul, MD]

Hi there!

The bone lesion is likely to be a haemangioma where as the cord lesion is likely to be a syrinx. If the orthopedician and the neurosurgeon did not seem to be concerned, these should not be anything to be worried about; but may require regular follow up after fixed intervals, if suggested by your treating doctors. Active management may be suggested if either appears to be growing or the symptoms become progressive/ severe.
Hope this helps.

Take care!