The use of computed tomography to distinguish osteochondroma and chondrosarcoma.

Computed tomography (CT) was performed prior to surgery on six patients with osteochondroma and six with chondrosarcoma. Criteria for distinguishing these two types of cartilage tumors were developed from classical radiological descriptions and known pathological characteristics. Application of these criteria to CT images permitted accurate diagnosis of eleven of the tumors and provided anatomical information important for surgical planning. Review of six previously published cases of cartilage tumors supported the findings. CT appears to be effective in the preoperative differentiation of osteochondroma and chondrosarcoma, including cases where this distinction cannot be made with conventional radiographs.