Osteochondroma

Osteochondromas are primary cartilaginous neoplasms that induce growth of underlying bone and marrow.  These are usually benign, but cartilaginous overgrowth / thickness of cartilaginous cap may be a sign of malignant transformation.

Triage & Gross

  • These specimens usually demonstrate a bony resection margin at the base, leading into a bony stalk with a multi-lobulated cauliflower-like protrusion ending in a cartilaginous cap.
  • Measure the specimen in 3 dimensions.
  • Ink the bony resection margin.
  • Serially section the specimen perpendicular to the cartilaginous cap.
  • Measure the thickness of the cap (range of thinnest to thickest).
  •   
  • Take note of any cartilaginous overgrowth. This feature is predictive / indicative of secondary chondrosarcoma arising in an osteochondroma.
  • Submit representative sections of cap, adjacent marrow, and margin.
  • Decalcify after fixation.
  • Be sure to state “after EDTA decalcification” or “after HCl decalcification” in your cassette summary and add a Decal stain (appears as “Decalcification process” NOT “H&E Decalcification”) in Beaker. One “stain” per container will suffice, as the only result of ordering the “stain” is to drop a billing charge.

Updated 7/6/23 SRR

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