Also known as: enchondromatosis

What is enchondroma?

Enchondromas are non-cancerous (usually) cartilage tumors that are found in the marrow of a bone (frequently the small bones of the hand, but can occur in the long bones of thigh, shin and upper arm). They are usually single growths, and boys and girls, 10-20 years of age, of all races are equally affected.

What causes enchondroma?
The reason for the abnormal cartilage growth is unknown. When multiple enchondromas are found, a gene abnormality may be the cause.

What are the symptoms of enchondroma?
When small, there may be no symptoms; tumors often being found while studies are being done for other problems. When large, they can cause pain, difficulty moving, bone enlargement/ deformities and bone fractures.

What are enchondroma care options?
If the enchondroma does not cause any symptoms, your doctor may choose to monitor it to ensure that it doesn’t grow. If it enlarges or causes complications, surgery to remove the growth may be recommended.

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Reviewed by: Jack Wolfsdorf, MD, FAAP

This page was last updated on: September 09, 2020 11:12 AM