Learning objectives
The purpose of our educational exhibit is to:
• Review typical features and etiologies of non-ossifying fibroma.
• Discuss possible differential diagnoses and role of conventional radiography,
CT and MRI.
• Examples of clinical cases.
Background
Non-ossifying fibroma is one of the most common benign fibrous bone lesions,
with an estimated prevalence of 30-40%,
especially in males1,
between 2 and 20 years2.
They are generally not seen in adults over 30 years,
because they spontaneously heal with ossification after complete bone growth (an osteosclerotic focus may persist).
They are usually asymptomatic and are discovered accidentally,
unless non-ossifying fibroma is significantly large (more than 50% of the diameter of the bone); in this case the onset can be very painful and associated...
Imaging findings OR Procedure Details
Conventional radiography is probably the most helpful assessment in order to make diagnosis; typically,
non-ossifying fibroma is a well defined,
osteolitic,
eccentric subcortical lesion,
often lobulated,
with a sclerotic rim (Fig.1).
It is usually located at the metaphysis of long bones of femur and tibia,
near conjugation cartilage,
but atypical presentations can be seen (such as fibula,
homer,
clavicle) (Fig.2),
especially in cases of multiple non-ossifying fibromas associated to specific syndromes like neurofibromatosis type 1 and Jaffe-Campanacci syndrome3.
Non-ossifying fibroma does not cause involvement of...
Conclusion
It is important to distinguish non-ossifying fibroma from benign lesions that may require different treatment but especially from malignant bone neoplasms,
in order to provide the best management of the patients.
References
Grove J,
Robbins C.
Nonossifying fibroma: a literature review and case report.
Hod N,
Levi Y,
Fire G et-al.
Scintigraphic characteristics of non-ossifying fibroma in military recruits undergoing bone scintigraphy for suspected stress fractures and lower limb pains.
Nucl Med Commun.
2007;28 (1): 25-33.
François S,
Lefort G,
Poli-Merol ML et-al.
Vitamin-resistant rickets cured by removal of a bone tumor.
Review of the literature.
Rev Chir Orthop Reparatrice Appar Mot.
1998;83 (4): 387-92.
Betsy M,
Kupersmith LM,
Springfield DS.
Metaphyseal fibrous defects.
J Am Acad...