Occurrence of Osteochondroma at Unusual Location (Metacarpal): A Rare Case Report

Osteochondroma usually occurs in long bones, whereas smaller bones are less commonly involved. Common locations include metaphysis of the proximal tibia, distal femur, distal tibia, distal fibula, proximal femur, and proximal humerus. Metacarpals are rarely affected.

A case report of a 20-year- old male presenting with swelling for 5 years, which is gradually increasing in size over the hand and reached 4 cm ×x 3 cm ×x 2 cm; following clinical and radiological examination, the patient was diagnosed with osteochondroma of a fifth metacarpal head of the right hand. We did magnetic resonance imaging scan for confirmation and reported it as osteochondroma which was treated surgically with excision of swelling in total, and specimen sent for histopathology and osteochondroma was confirmed.

Osteochondromas can rarely occur at unusual sites such as small bones of the hand and foot. Therefore, osteochondroma should be considered a differential diagnosis alongside other common tumours of the hand and foot, such as enchondroma (Olliers diseases).