IS Case 570: Multiple non-ossifying fibromas
Publication Date: 2011-11-16
History
Patient is a 4-year-old boy with history of multiple non-ossifying fibromas.
Findings
Images of the right humerus, forearm and femur demonstrated multiple lucent lesions consistent with multiple non-ossifying fibromas.
Diagnosis
Multiple non-ossifying fibromas
Discussion
Non-ossifying fibromas are the most common benign tumors of the bone in children. They occur most commonly in the metaphysic of long bones. The incidence of non-ossifying fibromas is about 30% in children above age 2. It is more common in males than females. They are normally asymptomatic and are usually found incidentally on imaging studies done for other purposes. Sometimes, they can weaken the bone and cause pathologic fractures.
Non-ossifying fibromas usually resolve with time and skeletal maturity. They are usually followed to make sure that there is no pathologic fracture. Surgical curettage and bone graft is the treatment if the bone becomes too weak or if it results in a pathologic fracture.
Multiple non-ossifying fibromas have been associated with Jaffe-Campanacci syndrome, which also includes café-au-lait skin patches, mental retardation, hypogonadism and cardiovascular abnormalities. Some studies also suggest a correlation between multiple non-ossifying fibromas and neurofibromatosis. So, patients with multiple non-ossifying fibromas are usually screened for neurofibromatosis.
References
- Hau MA, Fox EJ, Cates JM, Brigman BE, Mankin HJ. Jaffe-Campanacci syndrome. A case report and review of the literature. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2002 Apr;84-A(4):634-8. PMID: 11940628
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