Tumours and tumour mimics in the olecranon

Olecranon metastases from primary lung cancer: case report and review of the literature

Tumours in the olecranon are rare. A 62-year-old man presented with a 3-week history of pain in his right elbow that was relieved using routine painkillers. Persistent pain resulted in a reduction of the range of motion in the elbow and pain in the extensor and flexor groups of muscles of the forearm, which resulted in the patient seeking medical assistance. Radiography showed a round, radiolucent focus in the depth of the distal ulna. Computed tomography imaging of the thorax demonstrated one solid soft tissue mass. Histological investigation showed the cancer was a poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. The patient received local radiotherapy and systemic chemotherapy, but he died of his primary disease 3 months later.

Imaging of Upper Limb Tumors and Tumorlike Pathology

Bone and soft tissue sarcomas are uncommon tumors that can occur within the upper extremity as well as elsewhere within the body. However, certain histopathological subtypes have increased affinity for the upper limb and even certain sites within the arm and hand. Other benign masses and tumor mimics, such as infection and traumatic lesions, are more common and imaging appearances can sometimes overlap with malignant lesions making diagnosis difficult. In this article, we explore the current options for imaging of these lesions as well as typical imaging appearances of the more common upper limb tumors.