question: I have a mass between my 8th and 9th rib. It began in 10/09 the size of a pea but was not painful. By 10/2011 it was the size of a marble and vaguely painful constantly. The general surgeon I saw wanted to biopsy my rib. I underwent a robotic hysterectomy 11/2011. The OB surgeon ruled out cyst, polyp or hernia at the location. Subsequent CT showed mass and thoracic surgeon ordered a ultrasound. The ultrasound shows ossification of the 8th and 9th rib with a palpable mass between these ribs. The mass is hard (bony), protrudes and shaped like an egg. Pain is constant and sometimes throbbing and sharp. What is this?? I'm afraid it is an osteochondroma or soft tissue cancer. The thoracic surgeon dismissed me and told me to take an anti-inflammatory.