Enchondroma causes

Overview
The exact aetiology of it is not known. An enchondroma most often affects the cartilage that lines the inside of the bones. The bones most often involved with this benign tumor are the miniature long bones of the hands and feet. It may, however, also involve other bones such as the femur, humerus, or tibia. Enchondromas are the most common type of hand tumor.

Cause
While the exact cause of enchondroma is not known, it is believed to occur either as an overgrowth of the cartilage that lines the ends of the bones, or as a persistent growth of original, embryonic cartilage.

Associated conditions
An enchondroma may occur as an individual tumor or several tumors. The conditions that involve multiple lesions include the following:

Ollier's disease (enchondromatosis) - when multiple sites in the body develop the tumors.

Maffucci's syndrome - a combination of multiple tumors and angiomas (benign tumors made up of blood vessels).