Enchondrome on the finger | Enchondrome

Enchondrome on the finger

Enchondromas occur mainly in the area of long tubular bones, including the fingers. This is therefore the most common location of cartilage tumors. More rarely, enchondromas are found in the area of the thigh, upper arm, foot and pelvis.

They usually grow slowly and in most cases cause no discomfort. For this reason, they are often only noticed – if at all – by chance when an X-ray is taken. Only when they grow in size can they be seen from the outside as a slowly increasing swelling.

Enchondromas in the area of the fingers can occasionally lead to pain. They can also lead to a reduction in bony stability due to a slow displacement of bone tissue. This can cause the bone to break already under normal load.

This is called a pathological fracture. Despite the rare degeneration, if an enchondrome has been detected, regular x-ray checks should be carried out to detect rapid growth in size and to identify markers that could indicate degeneration in good time. If it cannot be ruled out with certainty by means of an X-ray image that a malignant lesion is present, other imaging procedures such as magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography are used; in cases of doubt, the tumor must be surgically removed.

A fine tissue sample of the tumor is then sent to a pathological institute. Here, under the microscope, in most cases a distinction can be made between a benign and a malignant lesion. However, an enchondrome can not only be removed surgically if degeneration is suspected.

Even if the affected person repeatedly complains of complaints – for example pain – or if bone fractures occur, surgical removal can be useful. An incision is made above the tumor tissue, the tumor is peeled out and then the tumor cavity is thoroughly rinsed to remove any remaining tumor. Such an operation can usually be performed under local anesthesia, so in most cases no proper anesthesia is necessary.