What is an osteochondroma? Information about the symptoms, diagnostic methods, surgical treatment options, and follow-up process of benign bone protrusions.
Osteochondroma is a benign bone tumor that develops on the bone surface and consists of bone and cartilage tissue. It usually occurs during childhood and adolescence, and its growth usually stops when skeletal development is completed.
Osteochondromas are often seen in the thigh (femur) and shin (tibia) bones around the knee and the upper arm bone (humerus). Most of the time it does not cause any symptoms. However, in some cases, a hard protrusion on the bone may cause complaints such as pain, limitation of movement, or pressure on the surrounding nerve and vascular structures.
Osteochondromas can develop in a single bone, or in more than one bone in hereditary multiple osteochondroma disease.
Diagnosis and Evaluation
In the evaluation of osteochondroma, the patient's complaints, physical examination findings, and radiological examinations are considered together.
X-ray is the primary imaging method used to evaluate the characteristic structure of osteochondroma on the bone surface. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) or computed tomography (CT) scans may be used when necessary.
In particular, the relationship of the tumor with surrounding tissues, the characteristics of the cartilage cap, and suspicious growth findings are evaluated in detail. Biopsy is usually not necessary in typical osteochondromas.
Treatment Approaches
Most osteochondromas do not require surgical intervention. In asymptomatic lesions without suspicious features, clinical and radiological follow-up may be preferred.
Surgical treatment may be considered in osteochondromas that cause pain, limited movement, or pressure on nerves and blood vessels. In the surgical procedure, the bone protrusion is appropriately removed along with its cartilage cap.
Growth that occurs after skeletal development is complete, newly onset pain, or suspicious changes in imaging features may require further evaluation. Malignant transformation of osteochondromas is rare; however, the risk is higher in multiple osteochondromas.
The treatment and follow-up process is planned according to the size of the lesion, its location, the complaints it causes, and the clinical characteristics of the patient.