Distribution of Solitary and Multiple Enchondromas of the Hand.

Abstract

Although some patients with enchondroma have multiple lesions, no study has investigated the distribution of lesions in patients with multiple enchondromas. This retrospective study included 118 patients with enchondroma of the hand. The incidence and characteristic feature of multiple enchondromas of the hand were investigated. Four patients (3.4%) had multiple enchondromas. In all the patients with multiple enchondromas, the lesions occurred in the middle phalanx, proximal phalanx, and metacarpal bone in the same digital ray. The development of the hand rapidly progresses from intrauterine day 33 to day 54. The digital rays are evident on intrauterine day 41, and separation of the distal phalanx, middle phalanx, proximal phalanx, and metacarpal bone is completed until intrauterine day 54. The successive occurrence of multiple enchondroma lesions in the same digital ray in all four cases suggests that the occurrence of lesions preceded the separation of the hand bones and the lesions were divided during the development of these bones.