An Osteological Study on the Prevalence of Osteochondromas.

BACKGROUND

Osteochondromas are frequently reported to be the most common benign tumor of bone. However, there is not definitive data on their prevalence rate as they are often clinically silent, with previous studies estimating 1-3%.

METHODS

We examined a large osteologic collection of 2954 skeletons to identify likely osteochondromas. One author examined all bones excluding the skull in each skeleton for atypical cortical projections. These candidates were then evaluated by an orthopedic resident and then a fellowship trained pediatric orthopedic surgeon for final inclusion using strict criteria.

RESULTS

13 cases of osteochondroma were identified from 2954 skeletons to yield a prevalence of 0.44% (95% confidence interval 0.20% - 0.68%) in the study population. All were located on long bones: three in the humerus, six in the femur and four in the tibia.

CONCLUSIONS

We found a prevalence of 0.44% for osteochondromas, which is approximately half the lowest value reported in previous literature.