Focal hematopoietic hyperplasia of the rib, a rare form of pseudotumor: Report of a case with review of literature

Abstract

Focal hematopoietic hyperplasia is a rare and localized proliferation of the bone marrow to such a degree that it produces a tumor-like expansion and hence called a pseudotumor. It is a rare benign condition and only 11 cases of focal hematopoietic hyperplasia have been reported in the English literature so far. We report one such rare case of focal hematopoietic hyperplasia in the rib of a 53-year-old female and reviewed the relevant literature. Our patient presented with backache and palpable swelling in the rib. Radiologically, they all manifested as an expansive and radiolucent lesion and contained ill-defined areas of increased density or calcification. Histologically, all have been characterized by mixed areas of hypercellular marrow and fatty marrow. Treatment in our case was by wide marginal excision of the rib.