Surface lesions of the bones of the hand

Bizarre parosteal osteochondromatous proliferation Nora's lesion: Case report of two cases with review of the literature

ABSTRACT

Bizarre parosteal osteochondromatous proliferation (BPOP) is also known as Nora's disease. It is a benign lesion. Even though recent studies showed probable neoplastic etiology, the exact cause is unknown. BPOP commonly involves small bones of hands and feet. This condition is rare and very few cases are reported. In this report, two cases are presented with clinical, radiological, and histopathological findings. The first case was a 38-year-old female presented with 3-year history of mild painful swelling in the left middle finger and the second case was a 28-year-old male with the left leg swelling for 8 years. On radiology, both cases showed surface lesion with uninvolved medullary cavity. Excision specimen of both the lesions subjected for histopathological examination. Microscopically, there was irregular maturation of the bone and cartilage. Cartilage showed purplish-blue color (blue bone) with bizarre chondrocytes. BPOP is a rare benign condition. Awareness of clinical radiological and microscopic findings is needed for correct diagnosis and to differentiate it from other mimicking benign and malignant conditions.

Subungual Exostosis Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

BACKGROUND

The coexistence of deformity of the nail bed and subungual exostosis (SE) is a frequent finding in podiatric practice in the fourth and fifth decades of life. However, it has been described by other specialists as being an uncommon osteocartilaginous tumor most prevalent during the second and third decades of life. This study attempts to determine the causes of this discrepancy.

METHODS

Two authors independently conducted a systematic bibliographic review in multiple databases, podiatry sources and others, and key words were chosen to achieve a broad search strategy. Studies reporting on epidemiology and treatment of SE lesions in lower extremities in ten or more patients were selected. Initially, 197 articles were identified through database screening, with 23 meeting all inclusion and exclusion criteria. Seven articles with the ages of all of the patients were included in the analysis of age data. A comparison was then made between the diagnostic criteria for the selected 23 articles.

RESULTS

Model results reveal that, although there are some significant differences between individual studies, the main factor tested (patient's age) was clearly significant ( F_1,5.2 = 78.12, P < .001), showing that studies coming from the podiatry speciality were conducted on individuals with a mean age of 37 years higher than in studies from other specialties. Clinical and radiologic characteristics and treatment described in the podiatry literature also contrast with those in other specialties.

CONCLUSIONS

The SE described by podiatrists, in accordance with the parameters of true exostosis, is different from Dupuytren's SE and should be considered as a different pathologic entity. The authors are working on its histologic identification.

Florid reactive periostitis of the long bone: A case series of seven patients

BACKGROUND

Florid reactive periostitis (FRP) is a rare benign periosteal lesion, which mostly involves the tubular bones of the extremities. FRP of the long bone is especially rare. We here report a case series of long bone FRP and also discuss the differential diagnosis and clinical outcome of our series.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

In total, four female and three male patients with long bone FRP and a mean age of 25.1 years were evaluated for this study, from which four upper extremity and three lower extremity FRP lesions were identified. Patients were classified according to the clinical, radiological and pathological manifestations of the lesion.

RESULTS

Periosteal reaction and edema around the lesions were observed in all cases. Calcified mass, bone marrow edema and cortical erosion were observed in six out of seven patients. Moreover, two lesions with peripheral mineralization and zoning appearances were observed. Limb rest and anti-inflammatory therapy proved to be sufficient treatment in all cases. The lesions were spontaneously resolved in all cases, leaving a residual exostosis.

CONCLUSION

Our report indicates that short bone and long bone FRP could reveal different characteristics in some aspects, including the choice of the therapeutic approach. In spite of the favorable clinical outcome of long bone FRP, its differentiation from more aggressive lesions, especially osteosarcoma and osteomyelitis, should still be taken into consideration. In addition, according to our evidence, the implication of the zonal pattern in differential diagnosis of FRP and myositis ossificans (MO) could be re-evaluated.

[Bizarre parosteal osteochondromatous proliferation of the metatarsal bone]

A bizarre parosteal osteochondromatous proliferation (BPOP), also known as a Nora lesion, is a rare benign bone formation. It emanates mainly from the intact cortex of the metaphysis of short tubular bones (hands or feet). Conventional radiographs should be complemented using cross-sectional imaging modalities (CT/MRI). In the absence of symptoms a non-operative regime with radiological and clinical controls is possible. If symptomatic, excision biopsy is the treatment of choice, though a high recurrence rate has been reported. Histopathological examination confirms the diagnosis and typically shows an endochondral ossification zone and an unusually mineralized cartilaginous matrix referred to as "blue bone".

The role of MRI in image-guided needle biopsy of focal bone and soft tissue neoplasms

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) plays a critical role in the management pathway of both soft tissue and bone neoplasms, from diagnosis through to post-treatment follow-up. There are a wide range of surgical, oncological, and combined treatment regimes but these rely on accurate histopathological diagnosis. This article reviews the role of MRI in the planning of image-guided needle biopsy for suspected soft tissue and bone tumors.

[Nora's lesion. Discussion of a rare bone proliferation]

Nora's lesion, also known as "bizarre parosteal osteochondromatous proliferation" (BPOP), was first described in 1983 by the pathologist Nora. This lesion is defined as a proliferation of the bone. In most cases the lesion emanates from the intact cortical substance of short bones. It used to be assigned to reactive, heterotopic ossifications. More recent publications described constant genetic alterations supposing a tumorous genesis. Nora lesions are mostly found in the third or fourth decade of life; a preference of sexes is not described in the literature. They are characterized by a typical appearance in radiological diagnostics, but the diagnosis is ultimately determined by histopathological examination. Surgical resection is the therapy of choice.We report the case of a 29-year-old patient with an undetermined proliferation of the proximal ulna. The diagnosis of a Nora's lesion was made. The therapeutic approach, differential diagnosis and corresponding literature are presented and discussed.