Osteochondroma
Osteochondroma
Osteochondroma is the most common noncancerous bone tumor that develops in children and adolescents. This tumor forms on the surface of a bone near the growth plate, usually on the arm, leg, and hip bones. It is made up of mostly bone and cartilage which allow it to continue growing until your bones stop growing; for girls this usually happens around the age of 16, and for boys 18. Osteochondroma is also benign, meaning that it does not spread to other parts of the body and it is not a life threatening disease. Less than 1% of these tumors are cancerous. (Surgeons, 1995) There are two main types of causation for this tumor; one, inherited and two, noninherited. Some noninherited causes are exposure to radiation, and having had previous hereditary exostoses. Hereditary Exostoses is a bone spur that is like Osteochondroma but is cancerous and the spurs can lead to permanent bone deformities. Although there are some known causations Osteochondroma has been known to occur sporadically as well. Because there is no one specific way of obtaining this disease it makes it harder to determine whether or not it is preventable. With that said, Osteochondroma is a non-preventable disease. The most common symptoms of Osteochondroma are: hard boney lumps, an arm or leg is longer than the other, pressure or irritation during exercising or participating in other physical activities, bone that breaks with a smaller amount of force being exerted on it. Although the lumps themselves are not painful the muscles, nerves, and tendons surrounding the growth may become irritated and painful. Since this form of tumor develops while a person is still growing and developing themselves the tumor forms in the space where your bone is supposed to be forming, and because of this it may make one of their arms or legs longer than the other. The reason that a bone would break more easily is because the Osteochondroma causes deterioration to the bone and weakens its structure.
Osteochondroma is the most common noncancerous bone tumor that develops in children and adolescents. This tumor forms on the surface of a bone near the growth plate, usually on the arm, leg, and hip bones. It is made up of mostly bone and cartilage which allow it to continue growing until your bones stop growing; for girls this usually happens around the age of 16, and for boys 18. Osteochondroma is also benign, meaning that it does not spread to other parts of the body and it is not a life threatening disease. Less than 1% of these tumors are cancerous. (Surgeons, 1995) There are two main types of causation for this tumor; one, inherited and two, noninherited. Some noninherited causes are exposure to radiation, and having had previous hereditary exostoses. Hereditary Exostoses is a bone spur that is like Osteochondroma but is cancerous and the spurs can lead to permanent bone deformities. Although there are some known causations Osteochondroma has been known to occur sporadically as well. Because there is no one specific way of obtaining this disease it makes it harder to determine whether or not it is preventable. With that said, Osteochondroma is a non-preventable disease. The most common symptoms of Osteochondroma are: hard boney lumps, an arm or leg is longer than the other, pressure or irritation during exercising or participating in other physical activities, bone that breaks with a smaller amount of force being exerted on it. Although the lumps themselves are not painful the muscles, nerves, and tendons surrounding the growth may become irritated and painful. Since this form of tumor develops while a person is still growing and developing themselves the tumor forms in the space where your bone is supposed to be forming, and because of this it may make one of their arms or legs longer than the other. The reason that a bone would break more easily is because the Osteochondroma causes deterioration to the bone and weakens its structure.
Cited: Hospital, B. C. (n.d.). Osteochondroma (exostosis). Retrieved september 10, 2012, from Boston Children 's Hospital: http://www.childrenshospital.org/az/Site1079/mainpageS1079P0.html Johns Hopkins Pediatric Orthopaedics Patient Guide to Osteochondroma. (n.d.). Retrieved september 09, 2012, from Johns Hopkins Medicine: http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/healthlibrary/conditions/adult/bone_disorders/osteochondroma_85,P00125/ Osteochondroma. (n.d.). Retrieved september 09, 2012, from Johns Hopkins Medicine: http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org/healthlibrary/conditions/adult/bone_disorders/osteochondroma_85,P00125/ Osteochondroma. (n.d.). Retrieved september 11, 2012, from Doctors of USC: http://www.doctorsofusc.com/condition/document/96746 Osteochondroma. (n.d.). Retrieved september 12, 2012, from Physiopedia: http://www.physio-pedia.com/Osteochondroma#Prevalence Surgeons, A. A. (1995). Osteochondroma. Retrieved september 07, 2012, from OrthoInfo: http://orthoinfo.aaos.org/topic.cfm?topic=A00079&grpwebid=2FD4EA