Scintigraphic characteristics of non-ossifying fibroma in military recruits undergoing bone scintigraphy for suspected stress fractures and lower limb pains

Abstract

Military recruits undergoing bone scan for suspected stress fracture might have incidental findings which require further evaluation. Focal lesions on bone scan located about the knee in the lateral aspect of the distal femur or lateral aspect of the proximal tibia in the metaphyseal region of these bones are not compatible with the characteristic scintigraphic features of stress fracture. Such a finding should raise the suspicion for other bony lesions such as NOF, which is commonly located in this region. During the healing phase of the NOF which commonly occur in the age range of this group, the lesion shows mild-to-moderate increased tracer uptake on bone scan. Plain film radiography is usually diagnostic and patients are followed up conservatively. Some NOF lesions are still indistinguishable from stress fracture or splints on bone scan.