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
- osteoid osteoma
See also
The more common of the above entities may be recalled with a mnemonic: epiphyseal lesions (mnemonic).