Osteochondroma

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Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

Overview

Osteochondroma is a type of benign tumor that consists of cartilage and bone.

It is the most frequently observed neoplasm of the skeleton. It is also called a "bone spur".

They often occur at joints, most commonly the shoulder or the knee.

Osteochondroma is not a dangerous tumor(benign). It can be left alone or can be removed by shaving down the tumor.

Multiple Osteochondroma (MO) is the preferred term used by the World Health Organization.

Causes

It is thought to arise during skeletal growth when bone grows away from the growth plate instead of in line with it. Because the cause of solitary osteochondroma is unknown, doctors have not been able to find a way to prevent it.

Risk Factors

Solitary osteochondroma is diagnosed in patients aged 10 to 30 years. It occurs equally in males and females. It does not result from injury.

Diagnosis

Symptoms

• The most common symptom of an osteochondroma is a painless bump near the joints.
• The knee and shoulder are more commonly involved.
• Solitary osteochondroma can be found at the ends of any long bone, and along the pelvic and shoulder bones.
• If the stalk of a pedunculated osteochondroma breaks, pain and swelling may start immediately.
• An osteochondroma can be located under a tendon. When it is, snapping of the tissue over the tumor may cause activity-related pain.
• An osteochondroma can be located near a nerve or blood vessel, such as behind the knee. When it is, there may be numbness and tingling in that extremity.
• A tumor that presses on a blood vessel may cause periodic changes in blood flow. This can cause loss of pulse or changes in color of the limb. Changes in blood flow resulting from an osteochondroma are rare.

MRI

Osteochondroma on the ventral surface of the right scapula

• 

  Rib-osteochondroma

Treatment

Most of the time, solitary osteochondroma is not removed surgically. The doctor will carefully observe it. He or she may want to take regular X-rays to keep track of any changes.

Surgery

When surgery is recommended, it is best to wait until growth is complete (a mature skeleton by X-ray evaluation) before removing a solitary osteochondroma. This decreases the chance of the tumor growing back.

Surgery may be considered if the osteochondroma:

• Is causing pain with activity
• Puts pressure on a nerve or blood vessel
• Has a large cap of cartilage

The osteochondroma is removed at the level of the normal bone. Some of the inside of the bone may also be removed.

Related Chapters

• Exostosis

Acknowledgements

The content on this page was first contributed by: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D.

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