SURGICAL-TREATMENT OF ENCHONDROMA IN LONG TUBULAR BONES - PRESERVATION OF FUNCTION VERSUS EXTENSIVE EXCISION IN THE HUMERUS

Insufficient criteria to distinguish enchondroma from low-grade chondr osarcoma occasionally lead to uncertainty concerning the optimal exten t of surgery. For either tumor the clinical outcome is mainly compromi sed by local recurrence. Reviewing our medical records, we retrospecti vely identified a female patient who was diagnosed as suffering from a large enchondroma of the left humerus in childhood and could be follo wed up for almost two decades. Following local excision of the tumor a t the age of 14 years. clinical follow-up was uneventful for 20 years. A potential primary extensive excision or amputation would have subst antially compromised this young woman's quality of life. The complete preservation of function here following a local excision has stimulate d a critical discussion of radical surgical treatment.