Pubic osteolysis simulating a malignant lesion. A case report with long-term follow-up

Abstract

Pubic osteolysis is a rare pathology characterized by a painful radiographic destructive changes in the pubic rami, pubis or pubic symphysis that often follows a post-traumatic event. The etiology is unclear but it is a benign lesion, frequently misinterpreted as malignant. We report a case of a 54-year-old woman with pubic osteolysis mimicking a malignant lesion, diagnosed after open bone biopsy, conservatively treated without any sequelae and followed-up 10 years after the end of treatment. Although in the majority of the reported cases, a previous trauma has been commonly referred, in our case the patient did not refer to any cause before the onset of clinical symptoms. Knowledge of this entity is important to avoid invasive diagnostic procedures, costly investigations or overtreatment.

Keywords: osteolysis; pubic rami; pubic symphysis; pubis.