Benign Cortacle Defect

February 12, 2011

After months of pain, we found out the cause of Daniel's knee/leg pain. After several x-rays it appears that he has a tumor, a small one, in his left knee. The tumor appears to be benign. He will be referred to a orthopedic surgeon within the next week to have more xrays, possibile mri, done. As of now, Daniel is not allowed to play any sports or participate in any activities that could cause wear on the knee. It is possible that the tumor, if large enough, can break the bone in his leg. That is why we are having more test done to make sure that it stays the same size and until then we are placing him on standby for sports.

Bless his sweet heart, he cried when I told him that he could not play baseball this season. He has played ball since he was 4. Def. not what he wanted to hear.

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A little info about Benign Cortacle Defect, also known as Non-ossifying Fibroma:

A non-ossifying fibroma is one of the more common benign tumors found in children and adolescents. It consists mainly of fibrous tissue that is almost always found in a region of any of the long bones called the metaphysis (the transitional zone where the shaft of the bone joins the end of the bone). It usually occurs in the distal femur (thighbone) or tibia (shin bone) but may also occur in the upper extremities.

These tumors usually produce no symptoms, unless a fracture is involved and usually resolve on their own at skeletal maturity (when bones normally stop growing). They very rarely persist into adulthood and never metastasize (spread).

The cause of a non-ossifying fibroma is unknown. It is believed to be a developmental defect associated with a vascular disturbance or related to a hemorrhage inside the bone.

This kind of tumor is neither malignant, nor aggressive, so the primary reason to treat it is to avoid a fracture, especially in athletic children. Although every patient is different, the long-term outlook for a patient with a non-ossifying fibroma is generally excellent. These tumors, as a rule, resolve on their own, usually at skeletal maturity. The concern lies in whether they will cause a fracture while active.