[The radiological findings in adamantinoma of the long tubular bones]

Abstract

The radiological findings of adamantinomas of long bones are described in 22 patients. The diagnosis was confirmed by a team of experts (pathologist, radiologist, orthopaedic surgeon) of the "Bone tumour study group" at the German Cancer Research Center. There were 12 male and 10 female patients aged 5 to 67 years (most commonly in the second and third decade). In 21 patients the tibia was involved and in one patient the fibula. The tumour was nearly always in the diaphysis (20 cases). The most striking radiological feature was a diaphyseal lesion confined to the bone showing multicentric translucencies. The latter showed surrounding or central ring shaped or focal areas of increased density. The lesions tended to be longitudinal, averaging 11 cm (between 3 and 25 cm). All lesions showed a sclerotic margin separating it from normal bone, at least over part of the lesion. Expanding lesions were mostly separated from the soft tissues by a bony rim (18 cases).