Benign Osteolytic Lesions in Children With Previously Normal Radiographs

Area of Science:

• Pediatric Orthopedics
• Skeletal Radiology
• Pediatric Oncology

Background:

• Benign bone tumors are common in children, often found incidentally or after fractures.
• Previously normal radiographs in children with new lytic lesions are rare but documented.
• This case series investigates such unusual presentations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To describe pediatric cases of benign osteolytic bone lesions that developed despite prior normal radiographs.
• To analyze the time course and characteristics of these rare lesions.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective case series of 8 pediatric patients with benign osteolytic lesions.
• Inclusion criteria: previous normal radiographs of the affected extremity.
• Single institution study.

Main Results:

• Identified 2 aneurysmal bone cysts and 6 nonossifying fibromas in 8 patients.
• Average age at discovery was 10.75 years.
• Time between normal and pathologic radiographs ranged from 2.5 to 7.25 years (average 4.6 years).

Conclusions:

• Benign osteolytic lesions (aneurysmal bone cysts, nonossifying fibromas) can develop relatively quickly in children.
• These cases may be under-recognized, necessitating awareness.
• Further research in larger databases could aid diagnosis and understanding etiology.