A 28-year-old female was referred with a 8 week history of pain in the right para lumbar region. Self medication had alleviated partially the symptoms. On physical examination, a hard mass was noted. No warmth or erythema was present. The patient was afebrile and had no blunt or penetrating trauma.
Because of the mass palpable, the first imaging study was a echography that showed a well circumscribed hypoechoic mass with a peripheral hyperechoic rim-like suggestive of calcification (Figure 1). Radiography and CT were performed because of the possible peripheral calcification and radiography of the lumbar spine demonstrated a lesion partially mineralized in the periphery (Figure 2) and CT confirmed a complete rim of calcification surrounding a central non calcified region (Figure 3). These imaging findings were suspicion of myositis ossificans and MRI was rejected because has limited its role in the calcifications. Through the possible diagnosis of myositis ossificans circumscripta (MOC), the patient underwent an excisional biopsy that confirmed the imaging diagnosis of MOC in a patient without trauma history. The lesion showed the typical zonal pattern (Figure 4), with gradual evolution from plump spindle cells trough immature woven bone to mature lamellar bone) in the periphery
Myositis ossificans circumscripta (MOC) is a localized, non-neoplastic, heterotopic ossification within the muscle, and predominantly in the extremities. Although MOC is a benign process, it may be mistaken for malignant tumor or infection. The association with trauma result controversial but history of previous local trauma may be helpful in establishing the diagnosis. Because of its self-limiting nature, the therapy is usually conservative, and the surgery is necessary in order to established the diagnosis or alive the symptoms. The clinical symptoms of MOC such as pain and soft-tissue mass are not specific. The imaging features may suggest the existence of myositis ossificans, but this entity has many faces in function of the stages of MOC itself. The features evolve with successive maturation and formation of the characteristic zonal pattern, described by Ackerman [1] and Johnson [2] in the intermediate stage and with a heavily calcified lesion in the late stage. The typical zoning phenomenon is a well-defined complete rim of peripheral calcification with varying thickness surrounding a central noncalcified region. Computed tomography (CT) is the imaging modality of choice because it demonstrates this pattern with excellent definition of calcification better than radiography, ultrasound and MRI [3]. The distribution of calcification is helpful for the differential diagnosis of MO from musculoskeletal neoplasms, and the most important is the osteosarcoma, with its parosteal and soft tissue variants. The pattern of calcification in osteosarcoma is central while in MO there is central radiolucent area and the most calcification is at the periphery reminiscent of an eggshell. Synovial sarcoma and malignant fibrous histiocytoma also show calcifications, but these are involving only a portion of the tumor, often centrally located.
On microscopic examination, the tumor showed the zonal pattern with three zones. The central area consisted of highly undifferentiated cellular proliferation with hemorrhage and necrotic muscles, the middle zone showed osteoblasts and inmature osteoid deposits and the periphery was composed of mature bone [4]. Therefore, if the biopsy is performed it should include the peripheral zone because a sampling of the middle and central area may lead to a wrong diagnosis of sarcomatous tumor. Also a premature biopsy in acute phase without the zone phenomenon may lead to a wrong diagnosis of sarcoma.
Therefore, the sensitivity of the diagnosis technique is determined by the stage of MOC evolution. The CT is the best and earliest and can confirm the diagnosis while the MRI may be more confusing than diagnostic.
Myositis ossificans circumscripta
The patient is a 28-year-old female with persistent right flank pain for 8 weeks. Combined ultrasound, X-ray, and CT examinations revealed the following:
Based on the patient’s history and imaging findings, the following possibilities are considered:
Combining the patient’s symptoms (insidious onset of local pain without obvious trauma), the imaging finding of peripheral calcification exhibiting a typical zonal phenomenon, and any available pathological evidence, the diagnosis is supported as:
Myositis Ossificans Circumscripta (MOC).
In this case, the peripheral “shell-like” calcification with a relatively low-density center, along with the absence of significant systemic inflammatory response, aligns with the classic features of MOC.
According to current treatment consensus, the management principles for myositis ossificans typically include:
Rehabilitation training should follow an individualized, gradual principle (FITT-VP):
Special Note: If the lesion or post-operative changes compress nearby nerves or blood vessels, a specialist evaluation is necessary before starting rehabilitation exercises.
Disclaimer:
The above content is for reference in medical knowledge and clinical reasoning only and does not substitute an in-person consultation or professional physician’s individualized advice. For specific diagnoses and treatments, please follow the guidance of a clinical or specialist physician.
Myositis ossificans circumscripta
