Manifestations, diagnosis and surgical treatment of enchondroma--own experience.

BACKGROUND An enchondroma is a rather common benign tumour of bone that originates from cartilage.The course is usually benign but they have a tendency to recur and are sometimes invasive, especially when developing in long bones. The aim of the study was to analyze the manifestations and methods of treatment as well as to assess the results of surgical treatment in patients with enchondroma. MATERIAL AND METHODS A total of 150 patients with enchondroma, including 90 women and 60 men aged 10-74 years, were treated in the Regional Trauma Surgery Hospital in Piekary Slaskie between 1998 and 2006. RESULTS The tumours were mostly located in phalanges of the fingers--55 cases (37%), and metacarpal bones--21 cases (14%). Multiple locations were seen in 13 patients. A total of 170 surgical procedures were performed, mostly (120 procedures) tumour resections with bone graft implantation. A recurrence of enchondroma was observed in 17 patients (11%). There was also one case of malignant transformation in to a chondrosarcoma. CONCLUSION Total resection of the enchondroma combined with spongy bone grafting is the main treatment of chondroma.