Abstract
1. Two cases are reported in which reappearance of an osteochondroma after excision was shown to represent a second independent lesion and not a true recurrence.
2. The significance of this observation is discussed in relation to the pathogenesis and prognosis of this lesion.
3. A plea is made for greater discrimination in using the ominous description "recurrence," because the rare true recurrence must strongly favour a diagnosis of malignancy.