Chondroblastoma of the acromion mimicking fibrous dysplasia


Published online: Dec 27 2004

Carsten GEBERT, Jendrik HARDES, Arne STREITBÜRGER, Volker VIETH, Horst BÜRGER, Winfried WINKELMANN, Georg GOSHEGER

From the University Hospital, Westfalian Wilhelms University, Münster, Germany

Abstract

The authors report the case of a 65-year-old man who presented with an expansive osteolytic lesion in the right acromion, mimicking cystic fibrous dysplasia. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a lesion with intermediate-signal intensity on T1-weighted images and a high-signal intensity on fat suppressed T2-weighted images. The biopsy led to the diagnosis of chondroblastoma. This tumour is rare in flat bones, and may mimic other benign or malignant lesions. It is therefore essential to perform a biopsy in order to obtain a definite diagnosis. The acromion was excised, and replaced with an iliac crest graft.