Ollier's disease and Maffucci's syndrome are similar multiple enchondromato
us conditions. Other co-existing pathologies, particularly other primary ma
lignancies, have been described sporadically in both conditions but more so
in Maffucci's syndrome. Maffucci's syndrome is distinguished from Ollier's
disease by the presence of haemangiomas in the former. In this report, a p
atient believed to have Ollier's disease for 44 years was subsequently foun
d to have large splenic haemangiomas on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). I
n the light of this, we recommend that any patient diagnosed with Ollier's
disease to have total body MRI to search for haemangiomas that will alter t
he diagnosis to Maffucci's syndrome and hence the prognosis. MRI also scree
ns for the presence of other associated malignancies.