What is the Difference Between Enchondroma and Chondrosarcoma

The key difference between enchondroma and chondrosarcoma is that enchondroma is a primary bone lesion normally found in the appendicular skeleton, while chondrosarcoma is a primary bone lesion normally found in the axial skeleton.

A bone lesion is developed when it replaces normal healthy bone with abnormal bone. Primary bone lesions or tumors are rare tumors originating in bone. Enchondroma and chondrosarcoma are the two most commonly found primary bone lesions in patients. However, they are different in characteristics and appearance. Moreover, enchondroma tends to present in young adults, whereas chondrosarcoma tends to present in middle-aged adults.

CONTENTS

1. Overview and Key Difference
2. What is Enchondroma 
3. What is Chondrosarcoma
4. Similarities – Enchondroma and Chondrosarcoma 
5. Enchondroma vs. Chondrosarcoma in Tabular Form
6. Summary – Enchondroma vs. Chondrosarcoma 

What is Enchondroma?

Enchondroma is a benign tumor that is developed in the cartilage in the center of the bones. This bone tumor generally does not cause any pain. Enchondroma can occur at any age but normally occurs between the ages of 10 and 40. Moreover, this tumor typically develops in the hands and feet. Enchondroma does not generally result in any symptoms, but in severe cases, it may cause weaker bones in the hands and feet and deformities or enlargement of the fingers. The actual cause of this tumor is not known. Anyhow, researchers believe this tumor may develop due to when the cells in the body turn into cartilage instead of bone.

Enchondroma is diagnosed through physical examination and imaging tests such as X-ray, CT scan, and bone scan. Furthermore, treatment options for enchondroma may include surgeries such as curettage and bone graft.

What is Chondrosarcoma?

Chondrosarcoma is a rare bone cancer that begins in the bones. However, it can also occur in the soft tissue near bones.  This type of cancer is often found in the hips and shoulder and is rarely present in the bones of the spine. The signs and symptoms of chondrosarcoma may include increasing pain, a growing lump in the swelling, weakness, or bowel and bladder control problems.

The exact cause of chondrosarcoma is not known. However, it can be caused by genetic or chromosomal components that make certain people more prone to this malignancy. In addition, it can also develop due to a late consequence of radiation therapy for other cancers.

Chondrosarcoma is diagnosed through physical examination, imaging tests like X-ray, CT scan, MRI, and tissue biopsy. Furthermore, treatment options for chondrosarcoma may include surgeries such as scraping the cancer away from the bone, cutting away the cancer and some healthy tissue around it, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy.

What are the Similarities Between Enchondroma and Chondrosarcoma?

• Enchondroma and chondrosarcoma are the two most commonly found primary bone lesions in patients.
• The exact causes of both tumors are not known.
• Both tumors can be identified through physical examination and imaging tests.
• They can be treated through specific surgeries.

What is the Difference Between Enchondroma and Chondrosarcoma?

Enchondroma is a primary bone lesion normally found in the appendicular skeleton, while chondrosarcoma is a primary bone lesion normally found in the axial skeleton. Thus, this is the key difference between enchondroma and chondrosarcoma. Furthermore, enchondroma usually does not result in any pain. On the other hand, chondrosarcoma usually results in intense pain.

The infographic below presents the differences between enchondroma and chondrosarcoma in tabular form for side-by-side comparison.

Summary – Enchondroma vs. Chondrosarcoma

Enchondroma and chondrosarcoma are the two most commonly found primary bone lesions in patients. Enchondroma is a primary bone lesion normally found in the appendicular skeleton, while chondrosarcoma is a primary bone lesion normally found in the axial skeleton. Moreover, enchondroma tends to present in young adults, whereas chondrosarcoma tends to present in middle-aged adults. So, this summarizes the difference between enchondroma and chondrosarcoma.

Reference:

1. “Enchondroma.” Johns Hopkins Medicine.
2. “Chondrosarcoma.” Mayo Clinic, Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research.

Image Courtesy:

1. “Enchondrom Humerus Roe02 – Annotation” By Hellerhoff – Own work (CC BY-SA 3.0) via Commons Wikimedia
2. “Bone Chondrosarcoma Grade2 HP” By Sarahkayb – Own work (CC BY-SA 4.0) via Commons Wikimedia