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Can an osteochondroma become cancerous

Author

Robert Miller

Published Mar 27, 2026

Although it is rare for an osteochondroma to change into a cancerous tumor, it is possible. In adults, a thick covering of cartilage over the tumor is one sign of such a change. A tumor in an adult patient should be checked for cancer if it is enlarging or has become painful.

How often do Osteochondromas become cancerous?

There is about a 1% chance of osteochondroma becoming cancerous over time. For this reason, your healthcare provider may want to keep it under observation. More severe cases of multiple osteochondromatosis can cause abnormal bone growth in children.

How long can you live with osteochondroma?

Osteochondromas are benign lesions and do not affect life expectancy. The risk of malignant transformation is 1–5%. The prognosis for secondary peripheral chondrosarcoma is depending on histological grade: 10 year survival rates are 83% for grade I chondrosarcomas compared to 29% for grade III chondrosarcomas [86].

Is osteochondroma life threatening?

Usually this condition by itself is not life-threatening. But bone sarcomas (mostly osteosarcomas) develop in about 1% of people with Paget disease, usually when many bones are affected. Hereditary multiple osteochondromas: Osteochondromas are benign tumors formed of bone and cartilage.

What is the percentage of malignant transformation of osteochondroma?

Malignant transformation is seen in 1% of solitary osteochondromas and in 3%–5% of patients with HME. Continued lesion growth and a hyaline cartilage cap greater than 1.5 cm in thickness, after skeletal maturity, suggest malignant transformation.

Should I worry about osteochondroma?

Should I be Worried? It is rare for osteochondromas to require extensive treatment and surgery and even more rare for the benign bone tumors to become cancerous. Your child’s orthopedic specialist will walk you through the next steps and work with you and your child to monitor the tumor’s growth.

How do I know if my osteochondroma is cancerous?

Although it is rare for an osteochondroma to change into a cancerous tumor, it is possible. In adults, a thick covering of cartilage over the tumor is one sign of such a change. A tumor in an adult patient should be checked for cancer if it is enlarging or has become painful. Biopsy.

How long does it take to recover from osteochondroma surgery?

It is normal for there to be some residual swelling and bruising at this time and it may take a few weeks more before returning to normal sports and activities. Sometimes some physio is needed to help get the joint moving and the muscles to recover, but it would usually take about 6 weeks in total to return to normal.

What is the life expectancy of someone with osteosarcoma?

SEER stage5-year relative survival rateLocalized74%Regional66%Distant27%All SEER stages combined60%

Does osteosarcoma run in families?

The cause of osteosarcoma is not known. In some cases, it runs in families, and at least one gene has been linked to increased risk. Treatment varies from person to person and may include surgery, chemotherapy , radiation therapy , and samarium.

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Why does my osteochondroma hurt?

In general, osteochondromas are hard masses that grow on top of the bone and only cause pain when nerves, muscles, or tendons rub against them. Keep in mind that each child can experience symptoms of osteochondroma differently, depending on the size and location of the tumor or tumors.

How does osteochondroma affect the body?

Osteochondroma is an overgrowth of cartilage and bone that happens at the end of the bone near the growth plate. Most often, it affects the long bones in the leg, the pelvis, or the shoulder blade. Osteochondroma is the most common noncancerous bone growth.

Is osteochondroma rare?

Signs & Symptoms Hereditary multiple osteochondromas is a rare disorder that affects bone growth.

Can Osteochondromas grow back?

It is possible that a benign growth or tumor can later become cancerous. It is also possible that a tumor that has been removed will grow back. Osteochondroma is the most common form of benign tumor growth in bones.

What is an osseous excrescence?

An osteochondroma is a cartilage-covered bony excrescence (exostosis) that arises from the surface of a bone. Osteochondromas, which are the most common bone tumors in children, may be solitary or multiple, and they may arise spontaneously or as a result of previous osseous trauma.

How do you get rid of osteochondroma?

  1. Causes pain.
  2. Puts pressure on a nerve or blood vessel.
  3. Has a large cap of cartilage.

What does osteochondroma feel like?

It may feel like a hard lump of tissue jutting out from a bone. These bone tumors are diagnosed by X-ray. Children with an osteochondroma should be seen regularly by an orthopaedic doctor because in very rare instances, this benign tumor can turn cancerous. Most of the time, an osteochondroma does not require surgery.

What does osteochondroma look like?

An osteochondroma looks like a bony projection on the external surface of a bone, like a bony mushroom on a stalk, usually near a growth plate area. It can occur in any bone but is seen most often around the knee or upper arm. This tumor generally grows with the child and stops growing once the child completes puberty.

Can you live with osteochondroma?

Osteochondromas are benign lesions that do not affect life expectancy. However, the risk of malignant transformation (to secondary chondrosarcoma) should be taken onto consideration, especially in cases of multiple exostoses.

Can you live through osteosarcoma?

What are the survival rates for osteosarcoma? If the disease is localized (has not spread to other areas of the body), the long-term survival rate is 70 to 75%. If osteosarcoma has already spread to the lungs or other bones at diagnosis, the long-term survival rate is about 30%.

How aggressive is osteosarcoma?

They will usually become aggressive without spreading to distant sites and cause damage to the bone near the tumor. Examples of malignant primary bone tumors include: osteosarcoma.

What is Stage 3 osteosarcoma?

In summary: Low-grade, localized tumors are stage I. High-grade, localized tumors are stage II. Metastatic tumors (regardless of grade) are stage III.

How common is osteochondroma?

Osteochondroma incidence is reported as 35% of benign and 8% of all bone tumors, though this is considered an underestimate as most are asymptomatic. Most cases are diagnosed within the first three decades of life, commonly in children or adolescents between 10 and 15 years of age.

Does osteochondroma stunt growth?

They found that the local presence of osteochondromas was associated with growth disturbance, and there was an inverse correlation between osteochondroma size and relative bone length. Their conclusion was that growth retardation might result from a local effect [10].

What does osteochondritis mean?

Overview. Osteochondritis dissecans (os-tee-o-kon-DRY-tis DIS-uh-kanz) is a joint condition in which bone underneath the cartilage of a joint dies due to lack of blood flow. This bone and cartilage can then break loose, causing pain and possibly hindering joint motion.

Does osteosarcoma hurt?

Pain at the site of the tumor in the bone is the most common symptom of osteosarcoma. The most common sites for these tumors in younger people are around the knee or in the upper arm, but they can occur in other bones as well. At first, the pain might not be constant and might be worse at night.

Is osteosarcoma passed down?

Most osteosarcomas are not caused by inherited gene mutations, but instead are the result of gene changes acquired during the person’s lifetime. Sometimes these gene changes are caused by radiation therapy used to treat another form of cancer, because radiation can damage the DNA inside cells.

What mutations cause osteosarcoma?

Mutations in the p53 gene are referred to as Li-Fraumeni syndrome (see below), which is the most common cancer predisposition syndrome associated with osteosarcoma. Many other changes occur in the genes of osteosarcoma cells.

What does osteochondroma mean in medicine?

(OS-tee-oh-kon-DROH-muh) A benign (not cancer) tumor that has both bone and cartilage in it. This type of tumor usually occurs at the ends of the long bones of the arms and legs or in the pelvis or shoulder.

Can subungual exostosis turn cancerous?

Subungual exostosis is an uncommon bony tumor of the distal phalanx most often seen on the hallux. Although this lesion is completely benign, it must be distinguished from a number of other subungual tumors, both benign and malignant.

Is multiple osteochondroma a disability?

If you or your dependent(s) are diagnosed with Hereditary Multiple Osteochondromas and experience any of these symptoms, you may be eligible for disability benefits from the U.S. Social Security Administration.