[Tumorous space-occupying lesions of the tibia. A radiological analysis of 459 cases]

The patients' age, location and radiography of 459 bone tumours and tumour-like lesions of the tibia were analysed retrospectively. 79.2% of all lesions were benign, and the portion of malignant tumours increased with increasing age. Predominantly malignant tumours were found in a distal central metadiaphyseal (100%), in proximal central epimetadiaphyseal (90%) and in a proximal central metadiaphyseal (63%) location. Lesions showing a growth rate according to Lodwick IA and those to IB were benign in 99.5% and in 95.4%, respectively. In contrast, tumours showing a grade II or III were malignant in 85.2% and 100% of cases, respectively. Through the construction of subgroups by combination of patients' age, location and growth rate special tumours were selected in that way, that they were predominantly found in that subgroups.