Healing fibrous cortical defect and a cortical desmoid tumor

Case contributed by Lee-Anne Slater
Diagnosis certain

Presentation

Patient reported a history of bone lesions in his femur when presenting to ED with pain in the right leg post minor trauma.

Patient Data

Age: 20 years
Gender: Male

On the lateral distal right femur, there is a cortical based sclerotic lesion with a well defined margin and no aggressive features. On an x-ray that the patient had printed out from 2 years earlier this same lesion was seen to be more lucent with features of a fibrous cortical defect. Given the previous images the findings were now consistent with a healed fibrous cortical defect.

In addition, there is an irregular cortical lesion on the distal medial femoral metaphysis.. The location and radiographic features, are most suggestive of a cortical desmoid.

Case Discussion

On the lateral aspect of the distal right femur in a cortically-based position, there is a sclerotic lesion with a well defined margin and no aggressive features. On an x-ray that the patient had printed out from 2 years earlier this same lesion was seen to be more lucent with features of a fibrous cortical defect. Given the previous images the findings were now consistent with a healed fibrous cortical defect.

A irregular bone lesion at the cortex of the medial femoral condyle was also noted. The position and features of this lesion were in keeping with a tug lesion, a cortical desmoid tumor.

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