Paediatric post-traumatic osseous cystic lesion following a distal radial fracture
Joey Chan Yiing Beh1, Ehab Shaban Mahmoud Hamouda1
1Department of Diagnostic Imaging, KK Women's and Children's Hospital, Singapore.
Insights
Post-traumatic osseous cystic lesions in children are rare but benign. A fat-fluid level on MRI is a key diagnostic feature, aiding in differentiation and avoiding invasive procedures.
Area of Science:
- Pediatric Radiology
- Orthopedic Pathology
- Bone Lesion Imaging
Background:
- Post-traumatic osseous cystic lesions are uncommon in pediatric patients.
- Proposed etiology involves intramedullary fat escaping through bone cortex defects into the subperiosteum.
- These lesions typically follow a benign clinical course with spontaneous resolution.
Observation:
- This case highlights a specific imaging finding in a child with a subperiosteal cystic lesion.
- The lesion exhibited a distinct fat-fluid level on Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI).
Findings:
- The presence of a fat-fluid level within a subperiosteal cystic lesion is a characteristic sign.
- Fatty marrow content contributes to the lesion's unique appearance on imaging.
- This specific MRI finding aids in differentiating post-traumatic cystic lesions from other bone pathologies.
Implications:
- Recognition of the fat-fluid level on MRI enables confident diagnosis of post-traumatic cystic lesions.
- Accurate diagnosis can prevent unnecessary and potentially invasive investigations in children.
- This imaging feature simplifies the diagnostic pathway for pediatric bone lesions.
Abstract:
Post-traumatic osseous cystic lesions are a rare complication in children. An aetiology of intramedullary fat seepage through the damaged bone cortex and its entrapment within the subperiosteum has been proposed. These lesions run a benign course and usually resolve spontaneously. The presence of fatty marrow gives it a distinct appearance which aids in its diagnosis and differentiation from other bone lesions. This case demonstrates a fat-fluid level within the subperiosteal cystic lesion in Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and this is a typical feature of post-traumatic cystic lesion in a child. Recognition of this imaging feature allows for a confident diagnosis, cutting down on unnecessary, potentially invasive investigations.
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