What causes an enchondroma?
The exact cause of enchondroma is not known. However, it is thought to happen due to either of the following: Overgrowth of the cartilage that lines the ends of the bones. Persistent growth of original, embryonic cartilage.
Should I be worried about enchondroma?
Enchondromas can grow and compress healthy bone tissue. However, most enchondromas are benign. Benign cartilage tumors usually don’t spread or destroy bone tissue. They’re rarely life-threatening.
How do I get rid of enchondroma?
Curettage is the surgical procedure most commonly used to treat enchondromas. In curettage, the tumor is scraped out of the bone. Once enchondromas are removed, most will not return. If a tumor has caused your bone to fracture, your doctor will usually allow the fracture to heal before treating the tumor.
Can enchondromas go away?
Most enchondromas are discovered as single tumors, and do not require treatment. In rare cases, multiple enchondromas can develop, weaken the bone and cause it to break or deform. In these cases, surgery may be needed to remove the tumor and stabilize the bone.
How fast do enchondromas grow?
Three out of 55 (5.45%) of long bone enchondromas exhibited growth at a median of 23 (range 21 to 25) months follow-up. The first growing lesion was discovered incidentally in a 48 year-old healthy male and was located in his distal femur.
How common are enchondromas?
With a prevalence estimated to be about 1 in 100,000, Ollier disease characteristically demonstrates multiple enchondromas in a classic unilateral predominance.
Can enchondroma be caused by trauma?
Furthermore, enchondromas with pathological fractures occur because the bone in question has been weakened by the disease process. Often, these injuries result from minor trauma, which might not otherwise cause a fracture in healthy bone.