Enchondromas are benign tumors that appear in cartilage tissue within bones, often causing no symptoms. They can lead to bone fractures or deformities if unusually large or multiple. Treatment involves surgical removal and repair of damaged bone. Enchondromas are most common in children and adolescents and can occur in any part of the body. Multiple tumors can occur in Ollier disease or Maffucci syndrome, causing chronic pain, fractures, and deformities. Diagnosis is confirmed through imaging tests, and treatment depends on the size, location, and number of tumors. Surgery is usually sufficient to prevent future ill effects.
An enchondroma is a benign tumor that appears in the cartilage tissue found within a bone. In most cases, enchondromas are painless and do not cause any adverse physical symptoms. When a tumor is unusually large or when multiple tumors are present, however, a person may experience bone fracture or deformity. Enchondramas are most likely to appear in the small bones of the hands or feet, although they can potentially affect any area of the body. Treatment is rarely required, and the most common procedure involves surgical removal of the tumor and repair of the damaged bone.
Doctors aren’t sure why enchondromas appear, but they could be the result of embryonic cartilage continuing to grow within already developed bone. They are most common in children and adolescents between the ages of 10 and 20 and appear to occur with equal frequency in boys and girls. An enchondroma is usually painless and goes undetected, unless a doctor notices it when performing diagnostic tests for other injuries or conditions.
A tumor can occasionally grow large enough to put pressure on a bone and cause it to break. The constant pressure of an enchondroma can also lead to hand or foot deformities. Sometimes, multiple enchondromas are present within a single bone in a condition known as Ollier disease. Maffucci syndrome is a similar condition in which bone cartilage tumors are accompanied by blood vessel tumors. Both Ollier disease and Maffucci syndrome can cause chronic pain, fractures, and deformities.
If a doctor suspects that an enchondroma is responsible for a bone fracture or deformity, they will usually do x-rays, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans, or other imaging tests to confirm a diagnosis. When MRI or X-ray findings reveal an enchondroma, your doctor will decide the best treatment measures based on the size, location, and number of tumors. It is important for doctors to investigate bone tumors carefully to make sure they do not show signs of cancerous conditions.
Surgery to set broken or deformed bones is usually sufficient to prevent future ill effects of small enchondromas. A large tumor is usually removed with a delicate surgical procedure that involves removing the enchondroma with a scalpel and grafting new tissue onto the bone. Patients are usually required to return to the doctor’s office after surgical procedures for regular MRI scans to monitor bone healing. It is very rare for a tumor to reappear, although a person with an enchondroma may have other undetected tumors in different parts of the body.
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