Epiphyseal lesions (differential)

Last revised by Daniel MacManus on 9 Mar 2025

Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data

Citation:

Reddy S, MacManus D, Knipe H, et al. Epiphyseal lesions (differential). Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 13 Mar 2025) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-6536

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-6536

Permalink:

https://radiopaedia.org/articles/6536?embed_domain=hackmd.io%2F%40yipuafecsl2jsu8smr5njq%2Fbnjhjgjghjghjghfavicon.ico

rID:

6536

Article created:

8 Jul 2009, Suresh V Reddy

Disclosures:

At the time the article was created Suresh V Reddy had no recorded disclosures.

View Suresh V Reddy's current disclosures

Last revised:

9 Mar 2025, Daniel MacManus

Disclosures:

At the time the article was last revised Daniel MacManus had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.

View Daniel MacManus's current disclosures

Revisions:

10 times, by 7 contributors - see full revision history and disclosures

Systems:

Musculoskeletal

Sections:

Gamuts

Synonyms:

Epiphyseal tumours
Epiphyseal tumours and tumourlike lesions
Osseous lesions preferentially involving the epiphysis

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
- hemophilic pseudotumor
- enchondroma
- osteoid osteoma