To discuss and illustrate the imaging characteristics of cartilage-forming tumors and tumor-like lesions, showing examples (conventional radiography, computed tomography and magnetic resonance images). To review the imaging features which suggest a benign or malignant etiology of these lesions.

Cartilage-forming tumors are frequently encountered by radiologists in their clinical practice. They include a wide spectrum of entities ranging from benign lesions to highly aggressive sarcomatous tumors. Within the benign chondrogenic lesions, osteochondromas and enchondromas are extremely frequent while within the malignant lesions, conventional chondrosarcoma represents one of the most common malignant primary bone tumors. Cartilaginous tumors are usuallyidentified by their plain film characteristics in conjunction with demographic and clinical information (like other primary bone neoplasms, most of them have a certain predilection for the...

Osteochondroma Osteochondroma is the most common benign tumor of the bone. It is a lesion composed of cortical and medullary bone with an overlying hyaline cartilage cap. The continuity of the lesion with the underlying native bone cortex and medullary canal is pathognomonic. The lesions may be solitary or multiple. Solitary osteochondroma Solitary osteochondroma is a frequent lesion (20 – 50% of benign bone tumors and 10 – 15% of all bone tumors). Most solitary osteochondromas are asymptomatic and are found incidentally. The most common...

It is very important for the radiologist to know the imaging characteristics of cartilage forming tumors and the signs suggesting a benign or malignant etiology of these lesions. A familiarity with these features may improve the accuracy of diagnosis and staging and allows better disease management.

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