Ossified skeletal muscle hemangioma: radiologic and pathologic features

Area of Science:

• Orthopedic Surgery
• Pediatric Oncology
• Diagnostic Radiology

Background:

• Skeletal muscle hemangiomas are uncommon vascular tumors typically affecting children and young adults.
• Preoperative diagnosis of these lesions is often challenging due to their vascular nature and variable presentation.
• Ossification within skeletal muscle hemangiomas is a rare phenomenon.

Observation:

• Two cases of skeletal muscle hemangiomas with significant osseous tissue are presented.
• Radiological examination revealed a characteristic "swiss cheese" appearance in both patients' tumors.
• This imaging finding suggests the presence of ossification within the soft tissue mass.

Findings:

• The "swiss cheese" radiological pattern is associated with ossified skeletal muscle hemangiomas.
• This specific imaging finding can be indicative of the tumor's composition.
• The presence of abundant osseous tissue is a key feature in these rare cases.

Implications:

• Recognizing the "swiss cheese" appearance can improve preoperative diagnostic accuracy for skeletal muscle hemangiomas.
• Accurate preoperative diagnosis facilitates appropriate surgical planning and management.
• This finding contributes to the understanding of the radiological spectrum of skeletal muscle hemangiomas.