LOW-RISK OF RECURRENCE OF ENCHONDROMA AND LOW-GRADE CHONDROSARCOMA INEXTREMITIES - 80 PATIENTS FOLLOWED FOR 2-25 YEARS

We analyzed the clinical course in 40 patients with enchondroma and 40 with low-grade chondrosarcoma of the extremities after a median follo w-up of 7 years, 13 patients with enchondroma and 2 with chondrosarcom a had only open biopsy and they had no signs of further progression of the lesions. Among 23 patients with enchondroma and 23 with chondrosa rcoma who were treated by intralesional curettage, 3 had local recurre nces, The 10-year local recurrence rate was 0.04 in the enchondroma gr oup and 0.09 in the chondrosarcoma group. There were no metastases, Th e results imply that enchondroma and low-grade chondrosarcoma of the e xtremities should be treated with limited surgery, The morbidity assoc iated with en bloc resection and reconstruction can apparently be obvi ated without jeopardizing the limb or survival.