[Cartilaginous tumors in children]

For the last 15 years, 44 cartilaginous bone tumors had been treated in children aging from 2 to 15 years. 80% were chondromas, either isolated (27), or multiples in enchondromata (9). Treatment varied from simple biopsy to extensive excision with cancellous bone graft. Two of these patients experienced postoperative recurrence but have been cured by another surgical excision. One chondromyxoid fibroma of the big toe and 2 chondroblastomas of the femur had been treated by excision with no recurrence. Three young boys (mean age 5 years) who had a metachondromatosis with chondromas of the extremities had been treated with one recurrence. Two children had a chondrosarcoma and both of them died from lung metastasis. Surgical treatment is indicated for all these tumors and is discussed with our results for each of them.