title: Hereditary multiple exostoses and solitary osteochondroma associated with growth hormone deficiency: to treat or not to treat?
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Osteochondroma generally occurs as a single lesion and it is not a heritable disease. When two or more osteochondroma are present, this condition represents a genetic disorder named hereditary multiple exostoses (HME). Growth hormone deficiency (GHD) has rarely been found in HME patients and a few data about growth therapy (GH) therapy effects in development/growth of solitary or multiple exostoses have been reported.
  
  
  METHODS
  We describe the clinical features of 2 patients (one with osteochondroma and one with HME) evaluated before and after GH therapy. In the first patient, the single osteochondroma was noticed after the start of treatment; the other patient showed no evidence of significant increase in size or number of lesions related to GH therapy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  It is necessary to investigate GH secretion in patients with osteochondroma or HME and short stature because they could benefit from GH replacement therapy. Moreover, careful clinical and imaging follow-up of exostoses is mandatory.
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine and Therapeutics Department, Pediatric and Adolescent Unit, University of Pavia, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Piazzale Golgi, 2, 27100, Pavia, Italy. mauro.bozzola@unipv.it.
authors.forename: Mauro
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bozzola
authors.affiliation: University of Pavia, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Gertosio
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Endocrinology Program, Pediatric Unit, S.Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gnoli
authors.affiliation: Medical Genetic Department, Rizzoli Orthopaedic Institute [IOR], Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Federico
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Baronio
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Endocrinology Program, Pediatric Unit, S.Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Elena
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Pedrini
authors.affiliation: Internal Medicine and Therapeutics Department, Pediatric and Adolescent Unit, University of Pavia, Fondazione IRCCS Policlinico San Matteo, Piazzale Golgi, 2, 27100, Pavia, Italy.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Meazza
authors.affiliation: Pediatric Endocrinology Program, Pediatric Unit, S.Orsola-Malpighi Hospital, University of Bologna, Bologna, Italy.
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Sangiorgi
mesh_terms: D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics* / Q000628:therapy; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005097:Exostoses, Multiple Hereditary / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics* / Q000628:therapy; D005260:Female; D019382:Human Growth Hormone / Q000172:deficiency*; D006801:Humans; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D015831:Osteochondroma / Q000150:complications / Q000235:genetics* / Q000628:therapy
chemical_list: D019382:Human Growth Hormone