Soft Tissue Chondroma of the Chin

Abstract

Soft tissue chondromas are benign tumors, generally of the hands or feet, very rarely of the head and neck region. Repeated microtrauma may be as an initiating factor. The authors describe a case of a soft tissue chondroma of the chin in a 58-year-old male who had used a continuous positive airway pressure face mask for obstructive sleep apnea for 3 years. The patient presented with a hard mass on his chin for 1 year. Computed tomography imaging showed a heterogeneous enhancing mass, with calcification in the subcutaneous layer. Intraoperatively, the mass was beneath the mentalis muscle and abutted the mental nerve, without bone involvement. The diagnosis was a soft tissue chondroma. The patient recovered fully, without recurrence. The primary cause of soft tissue chondromas is unknown. The authors consider that continuous use of a continuous positive airway pressure face mask may play a role in the etiology.

Nasal chondroma caused by needle microtrauma

“…2,3 However, the authors suggest that repeated microtrauma can be the initiating factor for its development. 4 Our patient submitted to a nasal filler procedure, being exposed to microtraumas such as needle or cannula punctures. Clinically, the tumor is a painless subcutaneous nodule with a firm consistency.…”