Nonossifying fibroma: characteristics at MR imaging with pathologic correlation.

PURPOSE: To correlate the findings of nonossifying fibroma at magnetic resonance (MR) imaging with those at pathologic examination.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: In 19 patients (age range, 8-25 years; mean age, 14 years) with pathologically proved nonossifying fibroma, MR images were analyzed for signal intensity and patterns of contrast enhancement. Findings at MR imaging and biopsy were correlated.

RESULTS: On T1-weighted images, all nonossifying fibromas had low signal intensity compared with that of skeletal muscle. On T2-weighted images, 15 lesions (79%) were hypointense and four (21%) were hyperintense. On gadolinium-enhanced images, intense contrast enhancement was seen throughout 15 lesions (heterogeneous pattern in 12 and homogeneous in three) and in the margins and septa in four. Extensive hypercellular fibrous tissue and hemosiderin seen at pathologic examination were depicted with low signal intensity on T2-weighted MR images.

CONCLUSION: The distinguishing features of nonossifying fibroma included hypointensity and septation on T2-weighted images. Signal intensity on T1- and T2-weighted MR images and the patterns of contrast enhancement were dependent on the amounts of hypercellular fibrous tissue, hemosiderin, hemorrhage, collagen, foamy histiocytes, and bone trabeculae.