Chondroma

Approach

  • Examine relevant area
  • Found in tubular bones of hand and feet

 

Pathology

  1. Benign cartilaginous tumours tumours within the surface of long bones
    • Endochondroma - arise from centre of bone
    • Ecchondroma - from surface of bone
  2. X-rays show well-defined lucent area in the medulla and characteristic specks of calcification

  1. Look
    • Visible single / multiple swellings
    • May be fusiform (endochondroma) or sessile (ecchochondroma)
  2. Feel
    • Smooth
    • Firm / hard
  3. Move

Differential diagnosis

  • Bone cysts
  • Chondrosarcoma (older patients, especially large bones)

Surgical treatment

  1. Excision and curettage with bone grafting

Ollier's disease

  • Multiple chondromas (aka dyschondroplasia) - sporadic disorder with equal sex distribution: pathological fractures and growth arrest occur
  • Rare combination of enchondromas with subcutaneous haemangiomas = Maffucci's syndrome
  • Patients with Ollier's disease have 30% change of developing malignant transformation to chondrosarcomas; increased risk of visceral malignancies