REVIEW OF RADIOLOGICAL APPEARANCE OF BENIGN BONE TUMOURS.

Abstract

Benign bone tumours are rare and often asymptomatic, typically discovered incidentally through imaging. Radiological evaluation is essential for diagnosing and managing these tumours, as it provides valuable information on their location, size, and characteristics, helping to distinguish them from malignant lesions. The appearance of benign bone tumours varies: osteoid osteomas present as small, well-defined lytic lesions with a central nidus and surrounding sclerosis; chondroblastomas appear as lytic lesions with a "soap bubble" appearance; simple bone cysts appear as unilocular, fluid-filled lesions; and fibrous dysplasia shows a "ground-glass" pattern due to fibrous tissue replacement. In general, benign tumours exhibit well-defined borders, lack of cortical destruction and no soft tissue extension. The World Health Organization (WHO) classification system provides a framework for standardizing the diagnosis and management of these tumours. Overall, radiological imaging is crucial for the proper diagnosis, assessment, and follow-up of benign bone tumours, guiding clinical decisions and improving patient outcome.