Which benign bone tumor is most common in children?

The most common benign bone tumor in children is osteochondroma. This tumor typically arises in areas of active bone growth, particularly around the knee, and is characterized by an outgrowth of cartilage and bone. Osteochondromas are often asymptomatic and may be found incidentally during imaging studies performed for other reasons.

In many cases, these tumors can stop growing once skeletal maturity is reached. They are most frequently seen in adolescents and young adults, making them particularly relevant in pediatric patients.

Understanding osteochondroma's presentation and context within pediatric bone tumors is crucial, as it helps distinguish it from malignant tumors, which tend to have different clinical implications and management strategies. For example, osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma, while important bone tumors that can occur in children, are malignant and more aggressive in nature, thus not fitting the criteria for a benign condition. Chondroma, while also a benign tumor, is considerably less common in children compared to osteochondroma.