Pediatric rib lesions: a 13-year experience

Pediatric Ribs at Chest Radiography: Normal Variants and Abnormalities

Normal variants and abnormalities of the ribs are frequently encountered on chest radiographs. Accurate identification of normal variants is crucial to avoid unnecessary investigations. A meticulous evaluation of rib abnormalities can provide valuable insights into the patient's symptoms, and even when no osseous condition is suspected, rib abnormalities may offer critical clues to underlying conditions. Rib abnormalities are associated with various conditions, including benign tumors, malignant tumors, infectious and inflammatory conditions, vascular abnormalities, metabolic disorders, nonaccidental injuries, malformation syndromes, and bone dysplasias. Abnormalities of the ribs are classified into three groups based on their radiographic patterns: focal, multifocal, and diffuse changes. Focal lesions are further subdivided into nonaggressive lesions, aggressive lesions, and infectious and inflammatory disorders. Radiologists should be aware of individual disorders of the pediatric ribs, including their imaging findings, relevant clinical information, and underlying pathogenesis. Differential diagnoses are addressed as appropriate. Since chest radiographs can suffice for diagnosis in certain cases, the authors emphasize a pattern recognition approach to radiographic interpretation. However, additional cross-sectional imaging may be necessary for focal lesions such as tumors or inflammatory conditions. Awareness of disease-specific imaging findings helps ascertain the nature of the lesion and directs appropriate management. ©RSNA, 2023 Quiz questions for this article are available in the supplemental material.

Chest Wall Mass in Infancy: The Presentation of Bone-Tumor-Like BCG Osteitis

Chest wall mass in infancy is rare. Malignant lesions are more common than infection or benign tumors. This is a case of a 12-month-old girl who presented with a 2 cm mass at the right costal margin and poor weight gain. Chest radiograph demonstrated a moth-eaten osteolytic lesion at the 8th rib. The resection was performed, and a mass with pus content was found. The positive acid fast stain (AFB) organism was noted. Pathology confirmed caseous granulomatous inflammation compatible with mycobacterial infection. However, QuantiFERON-TB Gold was negative, so Mycobacterium bovis (M. bovis) osteitis is highly suspected. She was treated with antimycobacterium drugs and showed good results. Osteomyelitis can manifest by mimicking bone tumors. Without a biopsy, the pathogen may go undetected. So, interventions such as biopsy are warranted and avoid mass resection without indication. High C-reactive protein (CRP), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), periosteal reaction of radiating spicules, and penumbra sign in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are helpful for discriminating osteomyelitis from bone tumor.

Osteosarcoma of the rib: A rare presentation

In children and adolescents with chest pain and dyspnea, pneumonia, pleural effusion, and empyema are the frequent causes in the differential diagnosis. Malignant tumors of the chest wall are rare and most originate from the ribs. In children, the most frequent malignant tumor of the rib is Ewing's sarcoma. Osteosarcomas of the rib are very rare. Osteosarcoma has a predilection for rapidly growing long bones including the femur, tibia and humerus in adolescents. In this paper, we present an adolescent girl who presented with chest pain and dyspnea with osteosarcoma that originated from the rib and extended to the right hemithorax.

Primary Osteosarcoma of the Rib: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Osteosarcoma is the most common primary malignant tumor of the bone. The most common sites of osteosarcoma in children are the metaphysis of long bones, especially the distal femur, proximal tibia, and proximal humerus. It occurs very rarely in flat bones. Here we report a 14-year-old adolescent boy with primary osteosarcoma of the fifth rib and a review of literature.

Systematic approach to musculoskeletal benign tumors

The radiologic workup of musculoskeletal tumors can be both cost-efficient and extremely helpful to the referring clinician if one proceeds in a thoughtful and logical manner. It should be remembered that plain films remain the most reliable imaging method for assessment of both biological activity and probable histologic diagnosis of an osseous lesion. Further investigations are of help to determine the extent of lesion and to help in staging. In order to do this, we have found it useful to include an assessment of 10 determinants in the description of a tumor. If these determinants are accurately described, the correct diagnosis or at least a limited differential diagnosis usually becomes obvious.

Chest pain caused by multiple exostoses of the ribs: A case report and a review of literature

The aim of this paper is to report an exceptional case of multiple internal exostoses of the ribs in a young patient affected by multiple hereditary exostoses (MHE) coming to our observation for chest pain as the only symptom of an intra-thoracic localization. A 16 years old patient with familiar history of MHE came to our observation complaining a left-sided chest pain. This pain had increased in the last months with no correlation to a traumatic event. The computed tomography (CT) scan revealed the presence of three exostoses located on the left third, fourth and sixth ribs, all protruding into the thoracic cavity, directly in contact with visceral pleura. Moreover, the apex of the one located on the sixth rib revealed to be only 12 mm away from pericardium. Patient underwent video-assisted thoracoscopy with an additional 4-cm mini toracotomy approach. At the last 1-year follow-up, patient was very satisfied and no signs of recurrence or major complication had occured. In conclusion, chest pain could be the only symptom of an intra-thoracic exostoses localization, possibly leading to serious complications. Thoracic localization in MHE must be suspected when patients complain chest pain. A chest CT scan is indicated to confirm exostoses and to clarify relationship with surrounding structures. Video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery can be considered a valuable option for exostoses removal, alone or in addiction to a mini-thoracotomy approach, in order to reduce thoracotomy morbidity.

Chest wall osteochondroma in children: a case series of surgical management

BACKGROUND

Chest wall osteochondroma is a rare tumor in children. Even though the potential for malignant transformation or serious intrathoracic complications is low, it has led some centers to advocate surgical management of these bony tumors. We present our experience of the surgical management of costal osteochondromata.

METHODS

Between January 1, 2006 and November 1, 2012 we saw 854 patients with solitary or multiple exostoses in our clinics. By reviewing our billing lists we found 7 children who had surgical management of chest wall osteochondromata. The indications for surgery were pain (3 patients), excision for confirmation of diagnosis (2 patients), recurrent pneumothorax (1 patient), and malignancy (1 patient).

RESULTS

All patients made a good postoperative recovery with a median hospital stay of 1.8 days (range, 0 to 4 d). There was no recurrence of exostosis on follow-up (range, 8 mo to 2.6 y). One patient required surgery for excision of another chest wall osteochondroma at an adjacent location. No patient reported scar-related pain symptoms. No malignant transformation or intrathoracic complications occurred. We found ribs as the first site of presentation of multiple hereditary exostoses in 2 young patients.

CONCLUSIONS

Surgical management of thoracic osteochondroma, with excision for painful, symptomatic, malignant lesions or lesions adjudged to be at risk of intrathoracic complications, yields good outcomes in terms of symptom control, establishing histologic diagnosis, and prevention of thoracic complications.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level IV-case series.

Rib tumors: a 15-year experience

OBJECTIVE

A retrospective study of rib tumors was conducted to review their clinical, radiological, and pathological features, the difficulties in differentiating benign from malignant tumors, as well as the early and long-term results of surgical management.

METHODS

All patients with rib lesions evaluated by the Thoracic Surgery Department from 1998 to 2012 were studied. The patient's age, sex, symptoms, radiologic evaluation, surgical procedure, pathologic diagnosis and follow-up were assessed.

RESULTS

Ninety-one patients (81 male, 10 female, age range 16-80) with rib tumors underwent surgery in a period of 15 years (1998-2012). 64 patients (70.33 %) had benign lesions and 27 patients (29.67 %) had malignant tumors. In the group with malignant tumors, the main symptom was pain, and in the group with benign tumors the main symptom was swelling. Ten patients with benign rib tumor and two with malignant tumor were detected during routine chest radiograph. All patients were treated surgically with wide excision of the tumor and the diagnosis was established histologically. In the benign cohort, osteochondromas, fibrous dysplasia, enchondroma, eosinophilic granuloma and posttraumatic fibro-osseous lesion/dysplasia were among the most customary diagnoses. In the malignant cohort, 13 patients (48.15 %) had metastatic lesions, with the remaining 14 patients having primary malignant rib tumor.

CONCLUSIONS

Although radiographic imaging has evolved, all rib lesions must be considered as potentially malignant until proven otherwise. Prompt intervention is necessary and surgery must consist of wide resection with tumor-free margins to provide the best chance for cure in both benign and malignant lesions.

Scoliosis after chest wall resection

BACKGROUND DATA

There has been an increased focus on the role of rib abnormalities in the development of scoliosis. Rib resection may influence the development of scoliosis. Although scoliosis has been identified in patients after thoracotomy, most of the currently available information is from case reports.

METHODS

We examined records of 37 patients who underwent a chest wall or rib resection for rib lesions at our institution during the period of 1992 to 2005. Adequate data was available in 21 patients. We gathered data on demographic information, location of resection, and changes in curvature after resection based on radiograph or scout CT films at the latest follow-up appointment.

RESULTS

Fourteen of 21 patients developed scoliosis with a mean Cobb angle of 25.8° (10°-70°). Eleven of these 14 patients had a progressive spinal deformity after chest wall resection with an average change in curvature of 29° (10°-70°). Eight of those 11 developed a convex toward the resection, while 3/11 developed a convex away from the resection. Seven of the eight patients with resections that included a rib superior to the sixth rib developed scoliosis, while four of 13 with resections below the sixth rib developed scoliosis.

CONCLUSION

Patients who have had a rib or chest wall resection are at risk for developing scoliosis, particularly if the resection is performed above the sixth rib.

Ultrasound evaluation of costochondral abnormalities in children presenting with anterior chest wall mass

OBJECTIVE

The purpose of this article is to summarize our experience with the use of ultrasound for evaluation of costochondral cartilage deformity in patients presenting with an anterior chest wall mass.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

From 2007 to 2012, we identified all patients at our tertiary care children's hospital younger than 18 years old who underwent ultrasound for a clinical indication of anterior chest wall mass of unknown cause. A pediatric radiologist reviewed all ultrasound examinations and other pertinent radiology examinations as well as prior and follow-up clinical history and determined the final clinical cause of the mass.

RESULTS

We identified 16 patients (nine girls and seven boys; age range, 11 months to 16.1 years; mean, 7.5 years). All patients presented with a firm anterior chest wall mass. Three patients had pain. Thirteen patients had prior imaging studies, including chest radiography (n = 13), CT of the chest (n = 1), MRI of the breast (n = 1), and ultrasound of the chest wall (n = 1). In all prior studies the cause of the anterior chest wall mass was missed. Ultrasound showed an angular deformity of a single-level (n = 13) or multilevel (n = 1) costal cartilage, hypertrophy and elongation with mild angulation of the costal cartilage (n = 1), and osteochondroma (n = 1).

CONCLUSION

Targeted chest ultrasound is a useful diagnostic tool in the evaluation of costochondral cartilage deformities and should be considered in children with a firm anterior chest wall mass and negative radiography.

Percutaneous image-guided needle biopsy of rib lesions: a retrospective study of diagnostic outcome in 51 cases

OBJECTIVE

To assess the diagnostic yield and diagnostic accuracy of image-guided percutaneous needle biopsy of rib lesions and to analyse the diagnostic spectrum of rib lesions referred to a tertiary musculoskeletal oncology centre.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

A retrospective review of all patients that underwent image-guided rib biopsy and/or excision during the period from 1 January 2003 to 31 July 2011. A total of 51 consecutive subjects were identified and included in this study. Image-guided percutaneous biopsy was performed using either CT (n = 43) or ultrasound (n = 8).

RESULTS

There were 28 males and 23 females, with a mean age of 49.9 years (range 10-84 years). Forty-five of the 51 biopsies (88%) yielded a diagnostic sample, and 6 (12%) were non-diagnostic. Thirty-one of 45 (69%) lesions were malignant, and 14 (31%) were benign. The commonest malignant lesions were metastases, 16 of 31 (51.6%), and primary bone or cartilaginous tumours, 15 of 31 (48.4%). The commonest benign lesion was fibrous dysplasia (6 of 14, 43%) followed by infection (5 of 14, 36%). All non-diagnostic samples were from lesions which had no extra-osseous component, and all were subsequently confirmed as benign on rib resection. There was complete agreement between needle and surgical resection in 18 of 19 subjects (96%).

CONCLUSION

Image-guided percutaneous rib biopsy has high diagnostic yield and accuracy. Intra-osseous lesions which have no associated extra-osseous component have a lower biopsy success rate.

Chondrosarcoma in childhood: the radiologic and clinical conundrum

Less than 10% of chondrosarcomas occur in children. In addition, as little as 0.5% of low-grade chondrosarcomas arise secondarily from benign chondroid lesions. The presence of focal pain is often used to crudely distinguish a chondrosarcoma (which is usually managed with wide surgical excision), from a benign chondroid lesion (which can be followed by clinical exams and imaging surveillance). Given the difficulty of localizing pain in the pediatric population, initial radiology findings and short-interval follow-up, both imaging and clinical, are critical to accurately differentiate a chondrosarcoma from a benign chondroid lesion. To our knowledge, no case in the literature discusses a chondrosarcoma possibly arising secondarily from an enchondroma in a pediatric patient. We present a clinicopathologic and radiology review of conventional chondrosarcomas. We also attempt to further the understanding of how to manage a chondroid lesion in the pediatric patient with only vague or bilateral complaints of pain.

[Pediatric Ewing sarcoma of the rib: role of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in tumoral shrinking and sterilization. A case report]

Ewing sarcoma is a rare tumor, which represents, nevertheless, the most common primary chest wall tumor in children. The management and prognosis of these tumors have markedly improved with the use of multimodal therapy including adjuvant chemotherapy, surgery and/or irradiation. A good response to chemotherapy often avoids the need for extensive local treatment without sacrificing local control or long-term survival. Here, we report a new case of a bulky rib Ewing sarcoma, well managed by neoadjuvant chemotherapy resulting in significantly tumor shrinking that allowed complete resection. At the histological examination of the specimen, there was only inflammatory and fibrosis tissues without viable tumoral tissue.

Primary chest wall tumors

The differential diagnosis of chest wall tumors is diverse, including both benign and malignant lesions (primary and malignant), local extension of adjacent disease, and local manifestations of infectious and inflammatory processes. Primary chest wall tumors are best classified by their primary component: soft tissue or bone. Work-up consists of a thorough history, physical examination and imaging to best assess location, size, composition, association with surrounding structures, and evidence of any soft tissue component. Biopsies are often required, especially for soft tissue masses. Treatment depends on histological subtype and location, but may include chemotherapy and radiotherapy in addition to surgical resection.

Multifocal periosteal chondromas in the ring finger of an adolescent boy: case report

We describe an unusual case of a 12-year-old boy who presented with a loss of motion in the ring finger caused by 2 separate periosteal chondromas involving the proximal and middle phalanges. Range of motion improved and recurrence did not occur at the 5-year follow-up after marginal excision of both lesions.

Tumors of the mediastinum and chest wall

Primary tumors of the mediastinum and chest wall comprise a diverse group of conditions with a wide range of presentations. A thorough knowledge of thoracic anatomy is essential for appropriate diagnosis and treatment. Given their proximity to critical structures, treatment of these tumors is often challenging. Although surgery is the mainstay of therapy for most mediastinal and chest wall tumors, a multidisciplinary approach is valuable in many cases.