Summary
Description
Bizarre parosteal osteochondromatous proliferation (BPOP) is a rare lesion that occurs most commonly in the hands and feet.
People and Age
This tumor occurs in adults in their 20's and 30's
Symptoms and Presentation
There is a history of a mildly painful mass
Brief description of the xray
On plain radiographs, a bony mass with well defined margins is seen to be applied to the surface of the bone
Brief desc of tx
Complete excision with the best possible margin is the treatment of choice.
Tumor Type
Benign or Malignant
Most Common Bones
Location in bone
Position within the bone
Tumor behavior
Tumor density
Complete Information on this Tumor
Introduction and Definition
Bizarre parosteal osteochondromatous proliferation (BPOP) is a rare lesion that occurs most commonly in the hands and feet. This lesion grows rapidly and has aggressive features on imaging studies as well as confusion findings on histopathology, leading to many errors in diagnosis and potentially inappropriate treatments. The lesion is thought to be related to myositis ossificans, reactive periostitis and subungual exostosis. It was described in 1983 by Dr. Nora, and is sometimes called Nora's disease or Nora's lesion. Recently, this lesion has been shown to have an association with a specific translocation t(1:17)(q32;q21).
Incidence and Demographics
BPOB occurs in adults in their 20's and 30's, average age 30 -33 years, range, 2 to 73. Males and females are equally affected. The lesion is most common in the hands followed by the feet, long bones (commonly of the upper extremity), skull, jaw, and other sites. It most commonly occurs on the proximal and middle phalanges, metacarpals, and metatarsals, and it is more rare in long tubular bones.
Symptoms and Presentation
There is a history of a mildly painful mass that seems to increase in size over many weeks or a few months. There is usually no history of trauma. There may be stiffness of a nearby joint, or other mechanical symptoms.
X-Ray Appearance and Advanced Imaging Findings
On plain radiographs, a bony mass with well defined margins is seen to be applied to the surface of the bone, and it may project into the soft tissues, but lacks the characteristic orientation away from the nearby physis that is seen in osteochondromas. There is a wide base, and the lesion may appear pedunculated. The lesion in this example started on the dorsolateral surface of the bone and then grew towards the palmar surface, wrapping itself extensively around the distal metadiaphysis. Other lesions in the leterature seem more pedunculated. The matrix of the lesion can bee seen to contain mature bone with trabeculae.CT scan is helpful to distinguish these lesions from osteochondromas. In the latter, carefully aligned images should be able to show that the cortex and medullary cavity of the bone is continuous with the cortex and medullary cavity of the lesion. In BPOP, there is no such finding. The well formed cartilage cap that is characteristic of an osteochondroma is also absent, but may not be well demonstrated on CT. MRI images reveal that the tissues within the lesion have signal characteristics that differ sharply from normal bone and cartilage. The lesion is dark on T1 and bright on T2, which is a typical pattern for neoplastic lesions. MRI will further differentiate the lesion from an osteochondroma. In the latter, the cartilage cap is well seen, and the signal characteristics of the bony parts of the lesion are typical of normal bone. The differential diagnosis includes a number of surface lesions such as osteochondroma, exostosis, myositis ossificans, low or high grade surface osteosarcoma, and periosteal chondroma.
Differential Diagnosis
Osteochondroma, periosteal chondroma.
Histopathology findings
On gross pathology, the lesion has a nodular surface covered with glistening cartilage. The bone in the lesion is said to have a distinct blue tint. The cut surface of the lesion bleeds freely. Histologically, the lesion contains very cellular cartilage, a proliferation of bizarre fibroblasts, and disorganized bone with spindle shaped fibroblasts in the intertrabecular spaces, leading to confusion with chondrosarcoma, fibrosarcoma, low grade parosteal osteosarcoma, and conventional osteosarcoma. The periphery of the lesion has lobulated hypercellular cartilage and fibrous tissue with occasional large chondrocytes. The chonrrocytes may be binucleate but lack atypia or hypochromasia. There is no "columnation" of the cartilage as in osteochondroma, rather the cartilage is disorganized and irregular, with patchy areas of ossification. The osteoblasts seen on the bony trabeculae are uniform and do not exhibit cellular atypia.
Treatment Options for this Tumor
The lesion is benign but may recur locally in as many as 50% of cases. Recurrence is usually seen from 2 months to 2 years after surgery. Complete excision with the best possible margin is the treatment of choice. Due to the difficulty in establishing the correct diagnosis, referral to an orthopaedic oncologist is warranted. The lesion does not metastasize.
Preferred Margin for this Tumor
Widest possible without damage to adjacent structures.
Outcomes of Treatment and Prognosis
Prognosis is good. Recurrence is common.
Special and Unusual Features
Recently, this lesion has been shown to have an association with a specific translocation t(1:17)(q32;q21).
Suggested Reading and Reference
Bullough and Invigorita pp. 324- 325.
Smith, Ellis, McCarthy, and McNaught Aust N Z J Surg
1996 Nov,66(11):781
Meneses, Unni, and Swee
Am J Surg Pathol 1993 Jul;17(7):691-7
Bandiera, Baccini, Bertoni Skeltal Radiol 1998 27:154-156
(J. H. Choi et al Skel Rad 2001 30:44-47)
Smith, Ellis, McCarthy, and McNaught Aust N Z J Surg
1996 Nov,66(11):781
Meneses, Unni, and Swee
Am J Surg Pathol 1993 Jul;17(7):691-7
Bandiera, Baccini, Bertoni Skeltal Radiol 1998 27:154-156
(J. H. Choi et al Skel Rad 2001 30:44-47)
