Osteochondroma of the Femur

Abstract

Osteochondromas are developmental growth anomalies, caused by a perichondrium anomaly around the epiphyseal growth plate that causes lateral growth instead of downward growth toward the metaphyses. They are pedunculated or sessile cortical and medullary bone outgrowths or exostoses with a hyaline cartilage cap and pathognomonic continuity with the parent bone cortex and canal. This chapter describes a case of osteochondroma of the femur, illustrated with fidings on bone SPECT/CT. Typically, bone tracer uptake may be seen in the growth phase or with complications such as fractures or malignant transformation. Otherwise, uptake should be similar to normal bone in a mature skeleton.