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Nonossifying fibroma

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Rohan A. Bhimani, M.B.B.S., D.N.B., M.Ch.[2] Huda A. Karman, M.D.

Synonyms and keywords: Fibroxanthoma; Fibrous cortical defect; NOF

Overview

Overview

Non ossifying fibromas are present in about 30 % of children. The incidence of Non ossifying fibroma is approximately 1000-2000 per 100,000 individuals worldwide. The age distribution of Non ossifying fibroma is between 5-15 years. Men are more commonly affected than women, with a 1.9:1 ratio. In 1929, Phemister first described the term non ossifying fibroma. The exact pathogenesis of non ossifying fibroma is not fully understood. Non ossifying fibroma (NOF) typically occur in the metaphysis of the long bones. The bones often involved are femur, tibia, and fibula. The majority of patients with non ossifying fibroma are asymptomatic. Some patients with non ossifying fibroma have a complaints of pain, swelling and pathological fracture. X-ray is the diagnostic study of choice for the diagnosis of non ossifying fibroma demonstrating soap bubble like lytic lesion. Observation is the mainstay of treatment for non ossifying fibroma. Surgery in form of curettage and bone grafting is reserved for cases with high risk of pathological fracture.

Historical Perspective

Historical Perspective

Classification

Classification

Non ossifying fibroma can be classified based on imaging findings.

Enneking (MSTS) Staging System

Stages Description
1 Latent: Well demarcated borders
2 Active: Indistinct borders
3 Aggressive: Indistinct borders
Pathophysiology

Pathophysiology

Causes

Causes

  • There are no established causes for non ossifying fibroma.[8]
Differentiating Non Ossifying Fibroma from Other Diseases

Differentiating Non Ossifying Fibroma from Other Diseases

Non ossifying fibroma must be differentiated from following bone disorders:

Disease Bubbly lytic lesion on x-ray Lakes of Blood on histology Diagnosis Treatment is curretage and bone grafting
Non ossifying fibroma + Radiology and biopsy
Unicameral bone cyst + Radiology and biopsy
Aneurysmal bone cyst + + Radiology and biopsy +
Giant cell tumor Radiology and Biopsy +
Chondroblastoma Biopsy +
Chondromyxoid Fibroma Radiology and biopsy +
Osteoblastoma Radiology and biopsy +
Telangiectatic osteosarcoma + Radiology and biopsy
Epidemiology and Demographics

Epidemiology and Demographics

  • The incidence of Non ossifying fibroma is approximately 1000 – 2000 per 100,000 individuals worldwide.[9]
  • Adolescents and children are most affected by non ossifying fibroma.
  • Non ossifying fibromas are present in about 30 % of children.[10]
  • The age distribution of Non ossifying fibroma is between 5-15 years.
  • Men are more commonly affected than women, with a 1.9:1 ratio.[11]
  • There is no racial predilection to non ossifying fibroma.
Risk Factors

Risk Factors

  • There are no established risk factors for non ossifying fibroma.
Screening

Screening

  • There is insufficient evidence to recommend routine screening for non ossifying fibroma.
Natural History, Complications, and Prognosis

Natural History, Complications, and Prognosis

Diagnosis

Diagnosis

Diagnostic Study of Choice

X ray of Non ossifying fibroma in proximal humerus.Source: Case courtesy of Dr Hani Salam, Radiopaedia.org, rID: 12463

History and Symptoms

Physical Examination

Laboratory Findings

Electrocardiogram

  • There are no ECG findings associated with non ossifying fibroma.

X-ray

CT of non ossifying fibroma in distal femur.Source: Case courtesy of Dr Roberto Schubert, Radiopaedia.org, rID: 14173

Echocardiography or Ultrasound

CT scan

MRI

Other Imaging Findings

  • There are no other imaging findings associated with non ossifying fibroma.
MRI of non ossifying fibroma in proximal humerus.Source: Case courtesy of Dr Hani Salam, Radiopaedia.org, rID: 12463

Other Diagnostic Studies

Biopsy

Treatment

Treatment

Medical Therapy

Observation

Observation

Indications

  • First line of treatment
  • Most lesions resolve spontaneously and progressively re-ossify as child enters 2nd and 3rd decade of life

Technique

  • Radiographs at 6, 12months, then annually until reossified

Casting

Indication

Surgery

Indication

Technique

Primary Prevention

Secondary Prevention

References

References

  1. H. L. Jaffe & L. Lichtenstein (1942). “Non-osteogenic fibroma of bone”. The American journal of pathology. 18 (2): 205–221. PMID 19970624. Unknown parameter |month= ignored (help)
  2. Peabody, Terrance (2014). Orthopaedic oncology : primary and metastatic tumors of the skeletal system. Cham: Springer. ISBN 9783319073224.
  3. Jawad MU, Scully SP (2010). “In brief: classifications in brief: enneking classification: benign and malignant tumors of the musculoskeletal system”. Clin Orthop Relat Res. 468 (7): 2000–2. doi:10.1007/s11999-010-1315-7. PMC 2882012. PMID 20333492.
  4. Herget GW, Mauer D, Krauß T, El Tayeh A, Uhl M, Südkamp NP, Hauschild O (April 2016). “Non-ossifying fibroma: natural history with an emphasis on a stage-related growth, fracture risk and the need for follow-up”. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 17: 147. doi:10.1186/s12891-016-1004-0. PMC 4820930. PMID 27044378.
  5. Goldin A, Muzykewicz DA, Dwek J, Mubarak SJ (October 2017). “The aetiology of the non-ossifying fibroma of the distal femur and its relationship to the surrounding soft tissues”. J Child Orthop. 11 (5): 373–379. doi:10.1302/1863-2548.11.170068. PMC 5643931. PMID 29081852.
  6. Mankin HJ, Trahan CA, Fondren G, Mankin CJ (May 2009). “Non-ossifying fibroma, fibrous cortical defect and Jaffe-Campanacci syndrome: a biologic and clinical review”. Chir Organi Mov. 93 (1): 1–7. doi:10.1007/s12306-009-0016-4. PMID 19711155.
  7. CUNNINGHAM JB, ACKERMAN LV (July 1956). “Metaphyseal fibrous defects”. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 38-A (4): 797–808. PMID 13331975.
  8. Hatcher CH (December 1945). “The Pathogenesis of Localized Fibrous Lesions in the Metaphyses of Long Bones”. Ann. Surg. 122 (6): 1016–30. PMC 1618342. PMID 17858695.
  9. Freyschmidt J, Ostertag H, Saure D (April 1981). “[Fibrous metaphyseal defect (fibrous cortical defect, non-ossifying fibroma). Paper II: differential diagnosis (author’s transl)]”. Rofo (in German). 134 (4): 392–400. doi:10.1055/s-2008-1056377. PMID 6453054.
  10. Nielsen GP, Kyriakos M. Fibrohistiocytic tumours. In: Fletcher CDM, Bridge J, Hogendorn PCW, Mertens F, editors. WHO Classifications of tumours of bone and soft Tissue. Lyon: IARC Press; 2013. pp. 301–4
  11. Ritschl P, Lintner F, Pechmann U, Brand G (1990). “Fibrous metaphyseal defect”. Int Orthop. 14 (2): 205–11. PMID 2115506.
  12. Wodajo FM (April 2015). “Top five lesions that do not need referral to orthopedic oncology”. Orthop. Clin. North Am. 46 (2): 303–14. doi:10.1016/j.ocl.2014.11.012. PMID 25771324.
  13. Ritschl P, Karnel F, Hajek P (1988). “Fibrous metaphyseal defects–determination of their origin and natural history using a radiomorphological study”. Skeletal Radiol. 17 (1): 8–15. PMID 3358140.
  14. Drennan DB, Maylahn DJ, Fahey JJ (1974). “Fractures through large non-ossifying fibromas”. Clin. Orthop. Relat. Res. (103): 82–8. PMID 4413505.
  15. Ritschl P, Karnel F, Hajek P (1988). “Fibrous metaphyseal defects–determination of their origin and natural history using a radiomorphological study”. Skeletal Radiol. 17 (1): 8–15. PMID 3358140.
  16. Peabody, Terrance (2014). Orthopaedic oncology : primary and metastatic tumors of the skeletal system. Cham: Springer. ISBN 9783319073224.
  17. Mallet JF, Rigault P, Padovani JP, Touzet P, Nezelof C (1980). “[Non-ossifying fibroma in children: a surgical condition?]”. Chir Pediatr (in French). 21 (3): 179–89. PMID 7408072.
  18. Fauré C, Laurent JM, Schmit P, Sirinelli D (1986). “Multiple and large non-ossifying fibromas in children with neurofibromatosis”. Ann Radiol (Paris). 29 (3–4): 369–73. PMID 3092720.
  19. Hetts SW, Hilchey SD, Wilson R, Franc B (April 2007). “Case 110: Nonossifying fibroma”. Radiology. 243 (1): 288–92. doi:10.1148/radiol.2431040427. PMID 17392261.
  20. Cherix S, Bildé Y, Becce F, Letovanec I, Rüdiger HA (June 2014). “Multiple non-ossifying fibromas as a cause of pathological femoral fracture in Jaffe-Campanacci syndrome”. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 15: 218. doi:10.1186/1471-2474-15-218. PMC 4088300. PMID 24965055.
  21. Ritschl P, Karnel F, Hajek P (1988). “Fibrous metaphyseal defects–determination of their origin and natural history using a radiomorphological study”. Skeletal Radiol. 17 (1): 8–15. PMID 3358140.
  22. Drennan DB, Maylahn DJ, Fahey JJ (1974). “Fractures through large non-ossifying fibromas”. Clin. Orthop. Relat. Res. (103): 82–8. PMID 4413505.
  23. Ritschl P, Karnel F, Hajek P (1988). “Fibrous metaphyseal defects–determination of their origin and natural history using a radiomorphological study”. Skeletal Radiol. 17 (1): 8–15. PMID 3358140.
  24. Huzjan R, Vukelic-Markovic M, Brkljacic B, Ivanac G (October 2005). “The value of ultrasound in diagnosis and follow-up of fibrous cortical defect”. Ultraschall Med. 26 (5): 420–3. doi:10.1055/s-2005-857887. PMID 16240255.
  25. Loberant N, Samovsky M, Papura S (September 2003). “Gray-scale and Doppler characteristics of fibrous cortical defects in a child”. J Clin Ultrasound. 31 (7): 369–74. doi:10.1002/jcu.10188. PMID 12923882.
  26. von Falck C, Rosenthal H, Gratz KF, Galanski M (August 2007). “Nonossifying fibroma can mimic residual lymphoma in FDG PET: additional value of combined PET/CT”. Clin Nucl Med. 32 (8): 640–2. doi:10.1097/RLU.0b013e3180a1ad09. PMID 17667441.
  27. Peabody, Terrance (2014). Orthopaedic oncology : primary and metastatic tumors of the skeletal system. Cham: Springer. ISBN 9783319073224.
  28. Hoeffel C, Panuel M, Plenat F, Mainard L, Hoeffel JC (1999). “Pathological fracture in non-ossifying fibroma with histological features simulating aneurysmal bone cyst”. Eur Radiol. 9 (4): 669–71. doi:10.1007/s003300050730. PMID 10354882.
  29. Hoeffel C, Panuel M, Plenat F, Mainard L, Hoeffel JC (1999). “Pathological fracture in non-ossifying fibroma with histological features simulating aneurysmal bone cyst”. Eur Radiol. 9 (4): 669–71. doi:10.1007/s003300050730. PMID 10354882.
  30. Herget GW, Mauer D, Krauß T, El Tayeh A, Uhl M, Südkamp NP, Hauschild O (April 2016). “Non-ossifying fibroma: natural history with an emphasis on a stage-related growth, fracture risk and the need for follow-up”. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 17: 147. doi:10.1186/s12891-016-1004-0. PMC 4820930. PMID 27044378.
  31. Andreacchio A, Alberghina F, Testa G, Canavese F (February 2018). “Surgical treatment for symptomatic non-ossifying fibromas of the lower extremity with calcium sulfate grafts in skeletally immature patients”. Eur J Orthop Surg Traumatol. 28 (2): 291–297. doi:10.1007/s00590-017-2028-3. PMID 28819829.


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