We're celebrating
40 years!
Last updated:
September 19, 2012
Years published: 1993, 2000, 2008, 2012
NORD gratefully acknowledges Wim Wuyts, PhD, Department of Medical Genetics, University and University Hospital of Antwerp, Belgium, for assistance in the preparation of this report.
Summary
Hereditary multiple osteochondromas (HMO) is a rare genetic disorder characterized by multiple benign (noncancerous) bone tumors that are covered by cartilage (osteochondromas), often on the growing end (metaphysis) of the long bones of the legs, arms, and digits. These osteochondromas usually continue to grow until shortly after puberty and may lead to bone deformities, skeletal abnormalities, short stature, nerve compression and reduced range of motion. Hereditary multiple osteochondromas is inherited as an autosomal dominant genetic condition and is associated with abnormalities (mutations) in the EXT1or EXT2 gene.
Introduction
Hereditary multiple osteochondromas was formerly called hereditary multiple exostoses.
Hereditary multiple osteochondromas is a rare disorder that affects bone growth. Bony tumors (exostoses or osteochondromas), covered with cartilage, typically appear in the growth zones (metaphyses) of the long bones adjacent to the areas where tendon and muscles attach to the bone. These growths vary in size and number among affected individuals, even within the same family. Some individuals will present with a few large “lumps” while others will show several small growths. The median age of diagnosis is three years and almost all affected individuals are diagnosed by 12 years of age.
In many cases, no treatment is required. If the exostoses are small, they may have little or no effect on the patient. However, in more severe cases, the growths may cause deformities of the forearm, knees, ankles, spine and/or pelvis. They may impose upon nerves, tendons and/or blood vessels, and interfere with movement or circulation, causing substantial pain as a result of pinched nerves or compressed tendons.
Bones that develop exostoses most often are the upper arm (humerus), forearm, knee and shoulder blades (scapulae). Bowing of the forearm and ankle are the problems that most often require surgical correction.
Approximately 40 percent of affected individuals have mild short stature as a result of shortened and/or bowed legs. If the vertebrae are affected, spinal cord compression may result, causing numbness and/ or paralysis. Urinary obstruction has been observed due to exostoses of the pelvic area.
The bony growths that characterize this disorder continue to grow until shortly after puberty at which time normally new growth no longer develops. The risk for development of malignant (cancerous) tumors, mostly chondrosarcomas, is approximately 1 to 5%.
Hereditary multiple osteochondromas is inherited as an autosomal dominant genetic condition. Dominant genetic disorders occur when only a single copy of an abnormal gene is necessary to cause a particular disease. The abnormal gene can be inherited from either parent or can be the result of a new mutation in the affected individual. Approximately 10% of cases of HMO are thought to be the result of new mutations. At present two genes, EXT1 and EXT2, are known to show mutations in HMO patients and it is thought that these genes function as tumor suppressors. For some affected individuals no mutation in either gene is detected. In almost all these cases, the “mutation negative” patients do not have a familial history for exostoses. Most likely, they have an EXT1 or EXT2 mutation in only part of their body cells and the mutation is absent or undetectable in blood cells, which are usually used for DNA analysis. Data indicates that individuals with EXT1 mutations may have more severe effects than those with EXT2 mutations. The risk of passing the abnormal gene from affected parent to offspring is 50% for each pregnancy. The risk is the same for males and females.
The prevalence of HMO has been estimated to be about 1 of 50,000 live births. A high prevalence of this disorder has been reported in some isolated communities. Hereditary multiple osteochondromas is a disorder that affects males and females in equal numbers but in general males tend to be more severely affected.
The diagnosis of HMO is based on clinical features, X-ray findings and family history. Molecular genetic testing of the EXT1 and EXT2 genes is available to confirm the diagnosis.
Treatment
Surgery may be required to relieve pain, improve movement, restore normal circulation, or for cosmetic reasons. Malignant degeneration of a tumor is treated surgically, possibly in combination with chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
Most of the malignant degenerations to cancers are to cartilage tumors or chondrosarcomas, which are slow growing and generally insensitive to chemotherapy.
Monitoring the size of affected bones by annual scans to screen for malignant degeneration is sometimes recommended. Rapid growth and increased pain are signs of a possible malignant change.
Genetic counseling is recommended for affected individuals and their families. Other treatment is symptomatic and supportive.
Information on current clinical trials is posted on the Internet at www.clinicaltrials.gov. All studies receiving U.S. government funding, and some supported by private industry, are posted on this government web site.
For information about clinical trials being conducted at the National Institutes of Health (NIH) in Bethesda, MD, contact the NIH Patient Recruitment Office:
Tollfree: (800) 411-1222
TTY: (866) 411-1010
Email: prpl@cc.nih.gov
For information about clinical trials sponsored by private sources, contact:
www.centerwatch.com
Contact for additional information about hereditary multiple osteochondromas:
Wim Wuyts, PhD
Department of Medical Genetics
University and University Hospital of Antwerp
Prins Boudewijnlaan 43
2650 Edegem
Belgium
Phone: 32-3-275.97.06
Fax: 32-3-275.97.23
JOURNAL ARTICLES
Bowen ME, Boyden ED, Holm IA, et al. Loss-of-function mutations in PTPN11 cause metachondromatosis, but not Ollier disease or Maffucci syndrome. PLoS Genet. 2011; 7(4):e1002050.
Pedrini E, Jennes I, Tremosini M, et al. . Genotype-phenotype correlation study in 529 patients with multiple hereditary exostoses: identification of “protective” and “risk” factors. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2011;93(24):2294-302.
Jones KB, Piombo V, Searby C et al. A mouse model of osteochondromagenesis from clonal inactivation of Ext1 in chondrocytes. Proc Natl Acad Sci U S A. 2010;107(5):2054-2059.
Jennes I, Pedrini E, Zuntini M et al.Multiple osteochondromas: mutation update and description of the multiple osteochondromas mutation database (MOdb). Hum Mutat. 2009;30(12):1620-16277.
Bovée JV. Multiple osteochondromas. Orphanet J Rare Dis. 2008;3:3.
Alvarez CM, De Vera MA, Heslip TR, Casey B. Evaluation of the anatomic burden of patients with hereditary multiple exostoses. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 2007;462:73-79.
Jaeger M, Westhoff B, Portier S, et al. Clinical outcome and genotype in patients with hereditary multiple exostoses. J Orthop Res. 2007;25(12):1541-1551.
Stieber JR, Dormans JP. Manifestations of hereditary multiple exostoses. J Am Acad Orthop Surg. 2005;13(2):110-120.
Porter DE Lonie L, Fraser, M, et al. Severity of disease risk of malignant change in hereditary multiple exostoses. A genotype-phenotype study. J Bone Joint Surg Br. 2004;86:1041-1046.
Ropero S, Setien F, Espada J, et al. Epigenetic loss of the familiar tumor-suppressor gene exostosin-1 (EXT1) disrupts heparan sulfate synthesis in cancer cells. Hum Mol Gent. 2004;13:2753-2765.
Noonan KJ, Feinberg JR, Levanda A, et al. Natural history of multiple hereditary osteochondromatosis of the lower extremity and ankle. J Pediatr Orthop. 2002;22 :120-4.
Bernard MA, Hall CE, Hogue DA, et al. Diminished levels of the putative tumor suppressor proteins EXT1 and EXT2 in exostoses chondrocytes. Cell Motil Cytoskeleton. 2001;48:149-162.
Francannet C, Cohen-Tanugi A, Le Merrer M, et al. Genotype-phenotype correlation in hereditary multiple exostoses. J Med Genet. 2001;38:430-434.
Bernard MA, Hogue DA, Cole WG, et al. Cytoskeletal abnormalities in chondrocytes with EXT1 and EXT2 mutations J Bone Miner Res. 2000;15:442-450.
McCormick C, Duncan G, Goutsos KT, et al. The putative tumor suppressors EXT1 and EXT2 form a stable complex that accumulates in the Golgi apparatus and catalyzes the synthesis of heparan sulfate. Proc Natl Acad Sci USA. 2000;97:668-673.
Wicklund Cl, Pauli RM, Johnson D, et al. Natural history study of hereditary multiple exostoses. Am J Med Genet. 1995;55:43-46.
Schmale GA, Conrad EU 3rd, Raskind WH. The natural history of hereditary multiple exostoses. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 1994;76:986-992.
INTERNET
Schmale GA, Wuyts W, Chansky HA, Raskind WH. (Updated September 5, 2008). Hereditary Multiple Osteochondromas. In: GeneReviews at GeneTests: Medical Genetics Information Resource (database online). Copyright, University of Washington, Seattle. 1997-2012. Available at https://www.genetests.org. Accessed September 19, 2012.
Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM). The Johns Hopkins University. Exostoses, Multiple, Type I. Entry No: 133700. Last Edited June 1, 2011. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/omim/. Accessed September 19, 2012.
Online Mendelian Inheritance in Man (OMIM). The Johns Hopkins University. Exostoses, Multiple, Type II. Entry No: 133701. Last Edited December 8, 2009. Available at: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/omim/. Accessed September 19, 2012.
NORD strives to open new assistance programs as funding allows. If we don’t have a program for you now, please continue to check back with us.
NORD and MedicAlert Foundation have teamed up on a new program to provide protection to rare disease patients in emergency situations.
Learn more https://rarediseases.org/patient-assistance-programs/medicalert-assistance-program/Ensuring that patients and caregivers are armed with the tools they need to live their best lives while managing their rare condition is a vital part of NORD’s mission.
Learn more https://rarediseases.org/patient-assistance-programs/rare-disease-educational-support/This first-of-its-kind assistance program is designed for caregivers of a child or adult diagnosed with a rare disorder.
Learn more https://rarediseases.org/patient-assistance-programs/caregiver-respite/