cortical desmoid

Lesions
involving the outer surface of the bone in children: a pictorial review. Cortical desmoid at the postero-medial aspect of the left femoral metaphysis in a 10-year-old girl. Sagittal a and axial b CT images show a scalloped radiolucent lesion with a thin sclerotic rim (arrow) along the posteromedial distal femoral metaphysis. Coronal T1 c and axial T2 fat-suppressed d images demonstrate low signal on T1 and high signal on T2 (white arrows on c and black arrows on d)
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Distal
femoral cortical irregularity with diaphysis fracture. Axial CT of the knee demonstrated cortical irregularity on posteromedial aspect of distal femoral metaphysis.
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Pitfalls in
the diagnosis of common benign bone tumours in children. Normal variants commonly misinterpreted as bone tumours: a Asymmetric closure of the ischio-pubic synchondrosis, with a pseudotumoral aspect on the left side (arrow). b Supra-condylar process of the humerus (arrowhead). c, d Cortical desmoid of the distal femoral metaphysis (arrows). e Ultrasound: longitudinal scan of the posterior femoral metaphysis demonstrates the bone irregularity of a cortical desmoid (arrowhead) and the insertion of the medial gastrocnemius head (arrow)
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Distal
femoral cortical irregularity with diaphysis fracture. Anteroposterior radiography of the leg showed a solid periosteal reaction on the proximal femoral diaphysis.
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Schoolager
with knee pain. AP (left) and lateral (right) radiographs of the knee show an irregularity in the contour of the posteromedial aspect of the distal femoral metaphysis.The diagnosis was cortical desmoid.
pediatricimaging.org • CC-by-nc-sa 4.0
Radiopaedia • CC-by-nc-sa 3.0 • de

Cortical desmoids, also known as cortical avulsive injuries, Bufkin lesion or distal cortical femoral defects/irregularities, are a benign self-limiting entity that are common incidental findings. This is a classic "do not touch" lesion, and should not be confused with an aggressive cortical/periosteal process (e.g. osteosarcoma).

Terminology

Cortical desmoid is a misnomer as this lesion does not histologically correlate to true desmoid tumors with more recent literature (c. 2020) referring these to distal cortical femoral irregularities.

Epidemiology

It typically presents in adolescents (10-15 years of age). There may be a male predilection.

Clinical presentation

Patients are usually asymptomatic, and it is discovered incidentally. Occasionally pain may be present.

Pathology

Cortical desmoids are classically seen at the posteromedial aspect of the distal femur. They can be bilateral in approximately one-third of cases .

It is related to repetitive stress at the attachment of the medial head of gastrocnemius or less commonly the lateral head of gastrocnemius distal or adductor magnus attachment sites .

Occasionally similar lesions have been described involving the humerus - medially at the insertion of the pectoralis major or laterally at the insertion of the deltoid.

Radiographic features

Plain radiograph

Typically shows a saucer-shaped radiolucent cortical irregularity involving the posteromedial aspect of the distal femoral metaphysis at the attachment of the adductor magnus tendon. The lesion lacks an outer margin.

MRI

Defines anatomy much better and is seen as a cortically based lesion in the expected location (i.e. posteromedial distal femoral metaphysis) :

  • T1: low signal
  • T2: high signal and surrounding low signal rim representing sclerosis may be present
  • T1 C+ (Gd): most show enhancement
Nuclear medicine

On bone scan, there is an abnormal increase in activity because of the chronic stress/traumatic origin of this lesion.

Differential diagnosis

Imaging differential considerations include:

Practical points

Siehe auch:
und weiter:
Assoziationen und Differentialdiagnosen zu kortikales Desmoid:
nicht
ossifizierendes Fibrom
Wikipedia • CC BY-SA 3.0
desmoplastisches
Fibrom
www.eurorad.org • CC by-nc-sa-4.0
parossales
Osteosarkom
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