We present the case of a 36 year old female, monitored for painful, progressive tumour in the anteromedial surface of the left elbow and functional deficit, of 2-month onset, which was resistant to analgesic treatment. She referred to a previous history of trauma, and had been diagnosed with fibrillar muscle rupture. Due to the persistence of symptoms, an out-patient MRI was performed which resulted in suspicion of soft tissue sarcoma and the patient was admitted to hospital for further study. Laboratory tests and a CT scan of the chest and abdomen were negative. A two phase bone scan (Fig. 1A and B), showed a heterogeneous uptake area in the anterior region of the left elbow with no relevant findings at any other level. Differential diagnosis was suggested as sarcoma of the soft tissue, chondrosarcoma and osteochondroma with malignant degeneration. It was finally decided that ultrasound-guided percutaneous biopsy be performed, the result of which was mesenchymal tumour without signs of malignancy and final diagnosis of myositis ossificans was made. Rest, anti-inflammatory treatment and physiotherapy were recommended as treatment. Three months later the patient showed clinical signs of improvement and a reduction in pain, with complete flexion and extension at 120°. Plain radiological control (Fig. 2A and B) and noncontrast CT imaging (Fig. 3) revealed a calcified mass, compatible with the anatomopathological diagnosis.

Fig. 1.

Two phase bone scan after the injection of 814MBq of 99mTc-hydroxy-biphosphonate. Static images after 10min (tissue phase [A]) and total body after 2h (bone phase [B]), where heterogeneous uptake may be observed of the radiotracer in anterior region of the left elbow (arrows).

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Fig. 2.

Plain X-ray of left elbow in lateral projection (A) and anteroposterior (B) projection.

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Fig. 3.

Noncontrast iv CT image of the left elbow. Both radiology studies show a calcified mass with a sclerotic surface not dependent upon on the radial cortex (arrows).

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