Myositis ossificans traumatica in young children : report of three cases and review of the literature

Myositis ossificans traumatica (MOT) is a rare musculoskeletal disorder in young children. Clinical and imaging presentation in the early stage of disease makes it difficult to differentiate between infection and musculoskeletal neoplasms, particularly in the absence of a history of trauma. Three cases of MOT in children under the age of 10 years, two with inferential trauma, are presented and the findings on different imaging modalities are discussed with reference to the existing literature. While findings based on a single imaging technique, including MRI, may be rather non-specific and even misleading, the combination of different modalities can assist in the consideration of MOT as a possible diagnosis. For example, the demonstration of soft-tissue haematoma on US would suggest the traumatic origin. A rational imaging approach is proposed.