Brown tumors: Retrospective analysis of 26 cases

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Endocrinology
• Pathology

Background:

• Brown tumors are rare, non-neoplastic osteolytic lesions resulting from hyperparathyroidism-induced bone resorption.
• These lesions are often associated with primary or secondary hyperparathyroidism.

Purpose of the Study:

• To retrospectively review a 34-year institutional experience with brown tumors.
• To analyze the clinical presentation, diagnosis, and management of brown tumors.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective analysis of 26 consecutive patients diagnosed with brown tumor between May 1988 and October 2020.
• Data collected included patient demographics, clinical presentation, diagnostic findings, treatment modalities, and follow-up outcomes.

Main Results:

• The study included 26 patients (65.4% male, 34.6% female) with a mean age of 41.6 years.
• Common presenting symptoms included localized bone pain (50.0%) and pathological fractures (26.9%).
• Most patients (88.5%) had primary hyperparathyroidism. Lesions were commonly found in the pelvis, femur, and ribs. Treatment involved orthopedic surgery (curettage, bone cement, bone grafting) in 21 patients and conservative management in 5, with no observed recurrences.

Conclusions:

• Diagnosis of brown tumor relies on clinical suspicion and requires consultation with endocrinology and general surgery.
• A multidisciplinary approach is essential for effective treatment of brown tumors.