Imaging features of hemangioma in the long bone

Abstract

Objective To explore the imaing features of hemangioma in the long bone and improve the diagnostic level of this disease. Methods The X-ray(14 cases), CT(9 cases) and MRI(6 cases)findings of 18 patientswith histologically proven hemangioma in the long bone after surgery were retrospectively reviewed. Results Ten tumors occurred in medullary cavity or bone end(medullary type),6 on the surface of bone (periosteal type) and 3 in cortex (intracortical type). X-ray findings: among 8 cases of medullary type, 3 showed honeycomb appearance, 3 lytic areas with sclerotic borders, one purely osteolyticchanges, and 1 frosted glass; 3 cases of periosteal type showed sclerosis and thickening of the underlying cortex; 3 cases of intracortical type showed well-defined osteolytic foci. CT findings: among 6 cases of medullary type, 5 appeared as expansile lytic lesion with uneven selerotic rim (3 cases)orhoneycomb appearance (2 cases), 1 cribriform appearance in the cortical bone, 2 periostealnew bone formation in vertical radiation pattern; 1 ground-glass appearance; among 2 cases of periosteal typeone showed regular cortical thickening, and the other irregular periosteal proliferation with marrowing of medullarycavity; 1 case of intracorticaltype showed density similar to that of soft tissue, with cortical thickening and expansion . MRI findings: 2 apeared as well-defined lesions with low signal intensity on T1WI and high signal intensity on T2WI; 1 appeared as ill-defined lesion with low to intermediate signal intensity on T1 WI and T2 WI. One showed breakthrogh of cortex and formation of soft tissue mass with low signal intensity on T1 WI and high signal on T2WI. Two showed thickening of periosteumwith intermediate signal intensity in one of them and very low signal intensity in the other. Two showed abnormal signal intensity in surrounding muscles, which was high on T2 WI and intermediate on T1 WI. Conclusions The soap-bubble or honeycomb appearance is the typical radiographic finding of hemangioma in long bone. CT and MRI can provide useful information for the diagnosis of hemangioma in long bone. Key words: Hemangioma; Diaphyses; Diagnostic imaging