Imaging Analysis of Chondromyxoid Fibroma

Objective:To investigate the MRI, conventional radiography (CR) and CT characteristics of chondromyxoid fibroma (CMF). Methods:The study included 18 patients (12 females, 6 males; mean age 30 years; range 9 to 78 years). Diagnosis was made histopathologically in all patients. The CR (15), CT (8) and MRI (10) characteristics were summarized. Results:The lesions were located in femur (3), tibia (3), humerus (2), metacarpus (2), temporal bone (2), frontal bone (2), ulna (1), fibula (1), calcaneus (1), thoracic vertebra (1). Ten lesions were located in long bones, most of the lesions (10/18) were in the metaphysis, 2 lesions were in the epiphyseal, 1 lesion in the diaphyseal. 11 cases were round or oval, 4 cases were lobulated and multilocular, 3 cases were irregular, all of them showed different degrees expansion. All of the cases were demonstrated lytic lesions in CR and CT, 4 Cases(26.67%) were found calcification in CR, 6 cases(75%) were found calcification in CT. All cases showed hypointense to intermediate signal intensity on T1WI images. On T2WI images, all lesions were hyperintense:peripheral intermediate signal band with central hyperintense signal in 8 (80%) lesions, whereas diffusely hyperintense with heterogeneous pattern in two (20%). On contrast-enhanced T1WI images, peripheral nodular or arc enhancement was observed in 80% (8/10) and diffuse contrast enhancement was observed in 20% (2/10). Conclusion:CMF is a relatively rare primary bone tumor of cartilage, it has some imaging characteristics, its MRI signal and enhancement characteristics play an important role in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis. Imaging features can provide reference value for preoperative diagnosis of CMF.