Clinical Description
To date, more than 1,000 individuals with a pathogenic variant in EXT1 or EXT2 have been identified [Pedrini et al 2011, Fusco et al 2019] (see Leiden Open Variation Database: EXT1 and EXT2). The following description of the phenotypic features associated with this condition is based on these reports.
Table 2.
Select Features of Hereditary Multiple Osteochondromas (HMO)
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Feature | % of Persons with Feature | Comment |
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Osteochondromas | 100% | More lesions in persons w/EXT1-HMO than in those w/EXT2-HMO 1 |
Angular deformities of forearms or legs | 30%-60% 2 | |
Leg length discrepancy | 10%-15% 3 | |
Shortened stature |
| More pronounced in persons w/EXT1-HMO than EXT2-HMO 4 |
Chondrosarcoma | 2%-5% 5 | Predominantly localized to pelvis, scapula, proximal femur, & humerus |
The number of osteochondromas, number and location of involved bones, and degree of deformity vary. Osteochondromas grow in size and gradually ossify during skeletal development and stop growing with skeletal maturity, after which no new osteochondromas develop. The proportion of individuals with hereditary multiple osteochondromas (HMO) who have clinical findings increases from approximately 5% at birth to 96% at age 12 years [Legeai-Mallet et al 1997]. The median age at diagnosis is three years. Males tend to be more severely affected than females [Pedrini et al 2011]. Although pain is a common complaint, most individuals with HMO lead active, healthy lives.
The number of osteochondromas that develop in an affected person varies widely even within families. Involvement is usually symmetric. Most commonly involved bones are the femur (30%), radius and ulna (13%), tibia (20%), and fibula (13%). Hand deformity resulting from shortened metacarpals is common. Abnormal bone remodeling may result in shortening and bowing with widened metaphyses [Porter et al 2004]. Anatomic distribution and number of osteochondromas depends on genotype and sex of the affected person [Clement & Porter 2014b].
Abnormal growth and development of the forearm and leg in untreated individuals with HMO is common, including both proportionate and disproportionate shortening of the two bones of the forearm or leg, producing shortened and angulated limbs, respectively. In a study of 46 kindreds in Washington State, 39% of individuals had a deformity of the forearm, 10% had an inequality in limb length, 8% had an angular deformity of the knee, and 2% had a deformity of the ankle [Schmale et al 1994]. Angular deformities (bowing) of the forearm and/or ankle are the most clinically significant orthopedic issues [Shin et al 2006].
Hip dysplasia frequently results from osteochondromas of the proximal femur and from coxa valga. Decreased center-edge angles and increased uncovering of the femoral heads may lead to early thigh pain and abductor weakness and late arthritis [Makhdom et al 2014, Wang et al 2015]. Femoral-acetabular impingement may also arise from proximal femoral osteochondromas, limiting hip motion [Viala et al 2012, Higuchi et al 2016, Duque Orozco et al 2018].
It has been stated that 40% of individuals with HMO have "shortened stature." Although interference with the linear growth of the long bones of the leg often results in reduction of predicted adult height, the height of most adults with EXT2 pathogenic variants and many with EXT1 pathogenic variants falls within the normal range [Porter et al 2004]. Shortened stature is more pronounced in persons with EXT1 pathogenic variants [Pedrini et al 2011, Clement et al 2012, Li et al 2017]. Height has been found to be directly proportional to leg length, and in a number of individuals with EXT1- and EXT2-HMO, height is below the 10th centile [Li et al 2017]. Multivariate analysis determined that the presence of a distal femoral osteochondroma was an independent predictor of knee deformity, diminished knee joint range of motion, and short stature [Clement & Porter 2014a].
Note: "Shortened stature" is used to indicate that although stature is often shorter than predicted based on the heights of unaffected parents and sibs, it is usually within the normal range.
Osteochondromas typically arise in the juxtaphyseal region of long bones and from the surface of flat bones (pelvis, scapula). An osteochondroma may be sessile or pedunculated. Sessile osteochondromas have a broad-based attachment to the cortex. The pedunculated variants have a pedicle arising from the cortex that is usually directed away from the adjacent growth plate. The pedunculated form is more likely to irritate overlying soft tissue, such as tendons, and compress peripheral nerves or vessels. The marrow and cancellous bone of the host bone are continuous with the osteochondroma.
Symptoms may also arise secondary to mass effect. Compression or stretching of peripheral nerves usually causes pain but may also cause sensory or motor deficits [Göçmen et al 2014, Onan et al 2014, Payne et al 2016]. Spinal cord compression and myelopathy from cervical osteochondromas have been reported [Aldea et al 2006, Giudicissi-Filho et al 2006, Pandya et al 2006, Ashraf et al 2013, Veeravagu et al 2017, Akhaddar et al 2018, Gigi et al 2019, Montgomery et al 2019], as has dysphagia from a cervical osteochondroma [Gulati et al 2013]. Bilateral inferior cervical osteochondromas have been found to produce neurogenic and vascular thoracic outlet syndrome [Abdolrazaghi et al 2018]. Syringomyelia and tethered cord/fibrolipoma in individuals undergoing screening spine exams without evidence of spinal osteochondromas have also been described [Legare et al 2016]. Mechanical blocks to motion may result from large osteochondromas impinging on the adjacent bone of a joint. Overlying muscles and tendons may be irritated or entrapped, resulting in pain and loss of motion [Andrews et al 2019]. Nerves and vessels may be displaced from their normal anatomic course, complicating attempts at surgical removal of osteochondromas. Rarely, urinary or intestinal obstruction results from large pelvic osteochondromas. Thoracic osteochondromas have been reported to lead to diaphragmatic rupture [Abdullah et al 2006], pneumothorax [Chawla et al 2013, Imai et al 2014, Dumazet et al 2018], hemothorax [Yoon et al 2015, Lin et al 2017], coronary artery compression [Rodrigues et al 2015], and severe chest pain [Kanthasamy et al 2020]. Osteochondromas have led to pseudoaneurysms [Oljaca et al 2019, Iqbal et al 2020] that can mimic sarcoma. Biopsy of a misdiagnosed pseudoaneurysm can have life-threatening consequences [Iqbal et al 2020].
The most serious complication of HMO is sarcomatous degeneration of an osteochondroma. Axial sites, such as the pelvis, scapula, ribs, and spine, are more commonly the location of degeneration of osteochondromas to chondrosarcoma [Porter et al 2004]. Rapid growth and increasing pain, especially in a physically mature person, are signs of sarcomatous transformation, a potentially life-threatening condition:
The incidence of malignant degeneration to chondrosarcoma, or less commonly to other sarcomas, is estimated at 2%-5%. In a large cohort of 529 affected individuals, the rate of malignant transformation was calculated to be 5% [Pedrini et al 2011]. A survey of an international heterogeneous cohort of 757 individuals with HMO revealed 21 (2.7%) with malignant degeneration, with pelvis and scapula the most common sites of malignant change from benign osteochondromas [Czajka & DiCaprio 2015].
Malignant degeneration can occur during childhood or adolescence, but the risk increases with age. Based on a study of HMO in Washington State (USA), it was estimated that HMO may increase the risk of developing a chondrosarcoma by a factor of 1,000 to 2,500 over the risk for individuals without HMO.