Two Cases of Osteomyelitis Suspected with Bone Tumor

Abstract

Progress in radiological diagnosis such as magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) improves the diagnosis of bone tumors. We however experienced false diagnosis by believing only these tools. We experienced 2 cases of osteomyelitis suspected with bone tumor. The first case was a 13-year-old boy who complained of left coxalgia. Conventional X-P and MRI suggested chondroblastoma or other bone tumors. The final diagnosis was Brodie's abscess by core biopsy. The second case was a 10-year-old boy who had high fever and right coxalgia inspite of using 4 kinds of antibiotics. The symptoms of the illness, CT, MRI, and Radionuclide bone scan suggested Ewing sarcoma. We made a definite diagnosis of acute osteomyelitis after open biopsy.
Radiological diagnosis is very useful for supporting diagnosis. We however need to carefully evaluate the symptoms of the illness and abnormal findings in physical examinations.