Diagnosis and treatment of myositis ossificans circumscripta in children

Objective To study the clinical features,diagnosis,treatment and prognosis of myositis ossificans circumscripta.Methods Clinical data of 13 children of myositis ossificans circumscripta were retrospectively analyzed.Results Four cases were diagnosed by pathological examination,including 3 cases who had resection of ossified mass because of joint dysfunction or pain.The other 9 cases were diagnosed according to clinical presentations and imaging features.The clinical presentations included redness,swelling,heat and tenderness.One case had no imaging abnormality at the early stage,but subsequently had typical X-ray features in mid and late stages.Two of the 3 cases who had resection recovered completely and one case had only very little impairment of finger flexion.During follow-up,eight of the 9 cases had stable disease,but one patient died of other unrelated cause.Conclusions Myositis ossificans circumscripta is a self-limiting disease,but it is often confused with other soft tissue conditions,such as abscess,osteomyelitis,or tumor at early stage.Clinical presentations may help to make a clinical diagnosis.Biopsy should be considered to avoid erroneous treatment. Key words: Myositis ossificans;  Child;  Radiography