Pediatric Cortical Desmoid

  • Etiology: stress related due to traction of adductor magnus aponeurosis / medial head of gastrocnemius
  • Imaging: irregularity in contour of posteromedial aspect of distal femoral metaphysis
  • Clinical: Don’t touch lesion, most common at 10-15 years, often but not always bilateral, left > right, consider using the term “tug lesion” or “avulsive irregularity”rather than “cortical desmoid”

Radiology Cases of Cortical Desmoid

Radiograph of cortical desmoid
AP (left) and lateral (right) radiographs of the knee show an irregularity in the contour of the posteromedial aspect of the distal femoral metaphysis.