Epiphyseal lesions (differential)

Epiphyseal lesions comprise tumors and other pathologies that occur around the epiphysis and any epiphyseal equivalent bone.

Differential diagnosis

Common differential diagnoses include the following ^2-4:

• chondroblastoma: rare epiphyseal tumor found in young adults; it usually does not extend into the metaphysis, and usually does not extend beyond the bone
• giant cell tumor (GCT): occurs in adolescents in whom the epiphyseal growth plates have closed; it can extend to involve the adjacent metaphysis
• geode/intraosseous ganglion
• osteomyelitis
• clear cell chondrosarcoma
• others that occur rarely
  • osteosarcoma and osteoblastoma
  • aneurysmal bone cyst (ABC): usually metaphyseal, but if it occurs after the growth plate is obliterated, it may extend into the epiphysis
  • brown tumor
  • haemophilic pseudotumor
  • enchondroma
  • eosinophilic granuloma
  • osteoid osteoma

See also

The more common of the above entities may be recalled with a mnemonic: epiphyseal lesions (mnemonic).