Narrative review covering the clinical presentation, characteristic imaging findings, and contemporary management of five common benign bone lesions in children and adolescents: nonossifying fibroma, unicameral bone cyst, aneurysmal bone cyst, fibrous dysplasia, and exostosis. The goal is practical pattern recognition to guide appropriate management and reduce unnecessary anxiety.
When you find a lytic bone lesion incidentally on a child's radiograph after minor trauma, run through this five-lesion framework: location, margin, sclerotic rim, fluid levels, and continuity of marrow cavity will distinguish most of these without biopsy.
When fibrous dysplasia is confirmed, remember the GNAS1 basis means surgical grafting alone will recur — bisphosphonate referral and intramedullary stabilization for load-bearing bone are the modern standard.
Narrative review covering the clinical presentation, characteristic imaging findings, and contemporary management of five common benign bone lesions in children and adolescents: nonossifying fibroma, unicameral bone cyst, aneurysmal bone cyst, fibrous dysplasia, and exostosis. The goal is practical pattern recognition to guide appropriate management and reduce unnecessary anxiety.
When you find a lytic bone lesion incidentally on a child's radiograph after minor trauma, run through this five-lesion framework: location, margin, sclerotic rim, fluid levels, and continuity of marrow cavity will distinguish most of these without biopsy.
When fibrous dysplasia is confirmed, remember the GNAS1 basis means surgical grafting alone will recur — bisphosphonate referral and intramedullary stabilization for load-bearing bone are the modern standard.