Haemophilic pseudotumor

Haemophilic pseudotumor is a rare complication of hemophilia consisting of a progressive cystic swelling of muscle and/or bone due to repeated bleeding, occurring in less than 2% of hemophiliacs.

Epidemiology

It is reported in 1-2% of hemophiliacs patients.

Pathology

Most develop in the muscles of the pelvis and lower extremity, where the large muscles have an abundant blood supply, or in bone following intraosseous bleeding.

Radiographic features

Ultrasonography, CT and MRI have significant roles in detecting pseudotumors, especially when they are in the pelvis.

Plain radiograph

X-ray is useful in diagnosing intraosseous pseudotumors. They appear as well-defined, unilocular or multiloculated, lytic, expansile lesions of variable size. It can involve metaphysis, diaphysis and epiphysis of long bones.

Other findings include endosteal scalloping, perilesional sclerosis, cortical thinning or thickening, trabeculations and septations. Pathological fractures can also be present.

Ultrasound

In the acute and subacute stages, sonography shows a central anechoic area with increased echoes behind the lesion, caused by fluid in the pseudotumor. A distinct plane separates the mass from the surrounding muscles.

CT shows the thick wall more consistently than does ultrasonography. Multiple irregular echoes represent solid material that cannot be documented on CT. Differential diagnosis from abscess may be difficult.

CT

CT is useful for detecting both the extent of soft-tissue masses and the involvement of bone. Pseudotumors contain coagulated blood and are surrounded by a thick wall.

Contrast-enhanced CT is useful for determining the thickness of the wall. In the acute stage, the center of the pseudotumor is hypodense on CT, but the periphery is isodense and indistinguishable from surrounding muscle.

MRI

The hypointense rim of a pseudotumor on both T1 and T2-weighted images consists of fibrous tissue that contains hemosiderin.

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