Imaging Diagnosis of a Proximal Tibia Tumor – Case Presentation

Introduction. 30 years ago, the primary role of radiology in tumor pathology was predominant in establishing the diagnosis. A wide range of techniques has been developed, allowing the interventionist radiologist to apply new procedures to patients with tumor pathology. This improved both the diagnosis and the treatment of tumor lesions. Material and method. A 19-year-old male patient, accused pain and functional knee failure, and pain in the ipsilateral ankle, which started about three months before, because of a sprain. Following the clinical examination, a suspicion of a meniscal lesion associated with a lesion of the ankle ligament complex arose. The magnetic resonance imaging revealed the meniscal lesion, but changes in the proximal tibia were observed, which required computed tomography of the knee. The presence of an osseous tumor at the proximal tibia was revealed. Given the unpredictable evolution of tumors in young people, a bone scintigraphy was decided to be performed. Results. The imaging studies commonly used in assessing the patient with musculoskeletal tumor pathology are radiographs, nuclear magnetic resonance, computed tomography, bone scintigraphy. Magnetic resonance imaging is the most sensitive method of diagnosis, allowing the assessment of the extent of the tumor formation in the medullary canal, but also in the adjacent soft tissues. Conclusion. After analyzing the patient’s history, the clinical, paraclinical and imaging examination, and the differential diagnosis will be established and the optimal treatment will be decided in this case.