In this study, a total of 1434 benign bone
tumors and 384
tumor-like bone lesions that have been diagnosed from 1945 until 1974 in the Institute of Pathology of the University of Freiburg was reviewed and statistically analysed. The most frequent
tumors include 720
osteochondromas, 345
enchondromas and 93
osteomas (80.8%). The remainder of 276 cases included several tumorous bone lesions with an individual share of below 5%. Our 64 osteoclastomas (4.5%) are in reality
tumors of low grade of
malignancy. There was an equal distribution among both sexes (737 male, 695 female). Predominate location were the bones of extremities and the skull. Most often, we have found these
tumors in the lower legs, and one third was localized in hands and feet. 60% of the benign bone
tumors of the hands have been
enchondromas.
Osteomas and
hemangiomas have been localized most often in the skull, and ossifying and non-
ossifying fibromas in the jaws. Main localization of osteoclastomas was the knee. Roentgenograms have always been put into consideration for diagnoses and have, together with the histological findings, facilitate an exact classification. Clinical findings have only exceptionally shown indicative symptoms (e. g. night
pain in cases of
osteoid osteomas); otherwise there were vague swelling,
pain or disfunction. Benign bone
tumors are poor of symptoms. Concerning
therapy, most bone
tumors have been cured by operation (
curettage, excision). In some
tumors (especially in chondromyxoidfibromas) recurrences have occurred. No investigated bone
tumor has shown a malignant transformation.