Multifocal rib osteomyelitis in children: a case report and literature review

Abstract

Rib osteomyelitis is a rare disease, occurring in ~1% or less of all cases of haematogenous osteomyelitis. During the last century, 58 cases of rib osteomyelitis were reported in the literature, of which, multiple ribs were involved in only five patients. Because of its rarity and non-specific clinical signs, diagnostic of rib osteomyelitis may be delayed. We report a case of multifocal rib osteomyelitis revealed by a dorsal mass in a healthy 13-year-old female child.

Figure 1:

Physical examination: a swelling of the left posterior chest wall of ~6 × 4 cm².

Figure 2:

A normal chest radiograph.

Figure 3:

Soft tissue and bone windows of a chest CT scan show a 6-3-5 cm pus collection of posterior chest wall. The mass appeared to traverse kidney capsule and the thoracic cage to be continuous with a pleural-based mass adjacent to it.