Solitary Osteochondroma eMedicine Orthopedics

Description: Osteochondroma is the most common benign bone tumor. These tumors are often diagnosed as an incidental finding. They account for approximately 35% of benign bone tumors and 9% of all bone tumors. Most are asymptomatic, but they can cause mechanical symptoms depending on their location and size. As benign lesions, they have no propensity for metastasis. In fewer than 1% of solitary osteochondromas, malignant degeneration of the cartilage cap into secondary chondrosarcoma has been described and is usually heralded by new onset of growth of the lesion, new onset of pain, or rapid growth of the lesion.
Synonyms and related keywords: osteocartilaginous exostosis, solitary osteocartilaginous exostosis, solitary OCE, bone tumor, bone lesion, bone cancer, chondrosarcoma
Ian D Dickey, MD, FRCSC