Chronic Recurrent Multifocal Osteomyelitis Mimicking Osteosarcoma

Radiol Case Rep. 2015 Nov 6;1(2):42-6. doi: 10.2484/rcr.v1i2.21. eCollection 2006.

Abstract

We report a case of an adolescent female who had an initial outside clinical and imaging presentation that was considered highly suspicious for metastatic osteosarcoma. Extensive evaluation led to the diagnosis of chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis. If this etiology had been considered earlier in the patient's clinical course, her diagnostic evaluation may have been less involved and treatment could have commenced sooner. When this entity is a diagnostic possibility along with neoplasm, strong consideration should be given to proceeding directly to open surgical biopsy due to the difficulty in diagnosing this lesion from small percutaneously-obtained biopsy samples.

Keywords: AP, anterior-posterior; CC, cranial-caudal; CRMO, chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis; CT, computed tomography; ESR, erythrocyte sedimentation rate; ML, medial-lateral; MRI, magnetic resonance imaging; SAPHO, synovitis, acne, pustulosis, hyperostosis.

Publication types

  • Case Reports