Exostosis is a benign bony outgrowth. It can occur anywhere in the body, and may be caused by a number of different things, ranging from environmental stresses to genetics. When someone develops an exostosis, the outgrowth may become painful or aesthetically displeasing, in which case surgery is a treatment option. In other cases, the growth may be allowed to remain, with a doctor keeping an eye on it to identify any early signs of complications which may emerge.
One common reason for exostoses to occur is environmental stress. A classic example known as surfer's ear happens when bone grows into the ear canal, apparently in response to frequent flooding with cold water. The patient starts to experience difficulty hearing and may have pain in the ears caused by the bony growth. A surgeon can remove the bone to restore hearing and patient comfort. Another form, buccal exostosis, involves the jawbone, with the lower jaw being more prone than the upper jaw.
Damage to joints can also cause this condition. In this case, strain on the joint results in the development of a small deposit of bone on or near the joint. A closely related condition, osteocartilaginous exostosis, involves a growth of bone and cartilage. This condition is also known as osteochondroma, and it tends to appear at the ends of the long bones. This benign bone tumor may be left in place or removed, depending on whether or not it interferes with the patient's quality of life.
Exostosis can also occur spontaneously, with no clear environmental cause. Some patients have a form known as hereditary multiple exostosis (HME), in which exostoses occur randomly across the body due to an inherited condition. In a family with a history of this condition, people may monitor children as they develop so that they can detect signs of bony growths early.
This condition can be identified by a doctor, who can take x-rays, examine the patient, and perform an interview to learn more. Once the extent of the problem has been determined, the doctor can talk about treatment options. The conservative approach involves watching and waiting, leaving the growth in place and checking in periodically to confirm it is not causing problems. More aggressive treatment involves surgery to remove the growth. If surgery is performed, the doctor may talk with the patient about the causes to see if any activities can be modified or avoided to prevent the growth from recurring.
