Fibrous Cortical Defect

  • Etiology:
  • Imaging:
    — Location (diaphysis, metaphysis)
    — Lytic with thin sclerotic rim and become sclerotic as they heal
    — Matrix (fibrous)
    — Zone of transition (narrow)
    — Periosteal new bone or cortical destruction (none)
  • DDX:
  • Complications:
  • Treatment:
  • Clinical:

Radiology Cases of Fibrous Cortical Defect

Radiograph of fibrous cortical defect of the tibia
AP radiograph of the ankle shows a metadiaphyseal lesion that is lytic and within the cortex with a narrow zone of transition and a sclerotic rim and no periosteal reaction.
Radiograph of a pathologic fracture through a fibrous cortical defect
AP and lateral radiographs of the distal femur show a thin linear lucency running obliquely through a large, lucent, well corticated lesion in the femoral metaphysis.