Case report

Extra-osseous osteochondroma-like soft tissue mass of the patello-femoral space

Francesco Oliva¹ , Alessandro Marconi² , Stefano Fratoni³ and Nicola Maffulli⁴

¹  Department of Orthopaedics and Traumatology, University of Rome "Tor Vergata" School of Medicine, Viale Oxford 81, Rome, Italy

²  I.N.I. Hospital Orthopaedic Unit, Grottaferrata, Rome, Italy

³  Department of Anatomy Pathology "S. Eugenio Hospital" of Rome, Italy

⁴  Department of Trauma and Orthopaedic Surgery, Keele University School of Medicine, North Staffordshire Hospital, Thornburrow Drive, Hartshill, Stoke on Trent, Staffordshire, ST4 7QB, England

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BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders 2006, 7:57doi:10.1186/1471-2474-7-57

Published:	15 July 2006

Abstract

Background

Extraskeletal cartilaginous tumors are uncommon. Osteochondromas usually arise from the metaphyseal region of the growing skeleton.

Case presentation

A 53 year old man presented with a three years history of anterior knee pain and inability to flex his knee more than 90°. Clinical examination and imaging studies revealed a nodular calcific mass in the anterior portion of the knee, displacing the medial portion of the patellar tendon. Following excision, histopathology confirmed the diagnosis of extra-osseous osteochondroma-like soft tissue mass, with no recurrence 24 months after surgery.

Conclusion

An integrated clinical-pathologic diagnosis helps to clarify the nature of extraskeletal cartilaginous tumors that can arise at unusual anatomic site. Complete local surgical excision is the management of choice.