This 14 year-old boy had radiographs of the ankle performed following a sporting injury. An incidental finding is shown.
Fibroxanthoma can be divided into:
1) Non-ossifying fibroma (> 2cm)
2) Fibrous cortical defect (< 2cm)
Both are pathologically identical.
Non-ossifying fibromas have the following features (all shown here):
1. Present in adolescents and young adults
2. Commonest location is the femur and tibia
3. Dia-metaphyseal in location
4. Eccentric with mild expansion
5. Well defined lucent lesion with a sclerotic margin
6. Cortical thinning, but not breach.
Lesions are asymptomatic and are usually an incidental finding. Lesions often spontaneously regress.
Reference: Paediatrics, Donnelly, 6, p90-1.
Credit: Dr Ian Bickle
