Computed tomography of desmoid tumors of bone: desmoplastic fibroma

Desmoplastic fibroma of bone is a rare benign tumor, first described by Jaffe in 1958. Since then approximately 80 cases have been reported in the long bones, although the tumor also involves the jaw bones, particularly the mandible. The plain film features consist of a lytic, expansile lesion, usually in the metaphysis of bone, sometimes extending into the soft tissues. We present two cases involving the long bones in which the correct diagnosis was suggested by computed tomography (CT). The CT appearance of the lesions is described.