Radiologic follow-up of untreated enchondroma and atypical cartilaginous tumors in the long bones

• Published in: Journal of surgical oncology Vol. 114; no. 8; pp. 987 - 991
• Main Authors: Deckers, Claudia, Schreuder, Bart H.W., Hannink, Gerjon, de Rooy, Jacky W.J., van der Geest, Ingrid C.M.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States Blackwell Publishing Ltd 01.12.2016; Wiley Subscription Services, Inc; John Wiley and Sons Inc
• Subjects: Adult; Aftercare; Aged; Cancer surgery; chondroma; Chondroma - diagnostic imaging; Chondroma - physiopathology; Chondroma - surgery; chondrosarcoma; Disease Progression; Female; Femoral Neoplasms - diagnostic imaging; Femoral Neoplasms - physiopathology; Femoral Neoplasms - surgery; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Humerus - diagnostic imaging; Humerus - physiopathology; Humerus - surgery; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Middle Aged; Radiography; Retrospective Studies; Surgery; therapy; Tibia - diagnostic imaging; Tibia - physiopathology; Tibia - surgery; Treatment Outcome; Tumors; Watchful Waiting; chondrosarcoma; chondroma; therapy; watchful waiting
• ISSN: 0022-4790; 1096-9098
• DOI: 10.1002/jso.24465

Background and Objectives Both enchondroma and atypical cartilaginous tumors (ACT) are not considered malignant, so inactive and asymptomatic tumors might not need surgery. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first study that has been done to evaluate the natural course of conservative‐treated enchondroma and ACT in the long bones. Methods For this retrospective study, we analyzed the results of patients in whom we refrained from surgery and only regularly performed radiological follow‐up of the tumor. Minimal follow‐up after initial diagnosis was 24 months. Results Forty‐nine patients were included in this study. Eight out of forty‐nine cases received surgical treatment during follow‐up of the tumor. The reasons for this surgery were radiologic growth of the tumor in two cases, pain in one case, patient request in three cases, another indication for surgery in the same limb in two cases. Conclusion In this small series of conservatively treated enchondroma and ACT, only 6% of the patients had a medical indication for surgery. This study shows that indication for surgery should be discussed more thoroughly. Based on our results, we would recommend annual radiologic follow‐up for asymptomatic enchondroma or ACT in the long bones, irrespective of tumor size. J. Surg. Oncol. 2016;114:987–991. © 2016 The Authors. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc.