title: Evaluation of ectopic bone by CT.
abstract: The CT appearance of ectopic bone and its maturation in 25 patients were correlated with the findings on radiographs and bone scans. Ossification progressed from an early appearance of soft-tissue density of lower attenuation than muscle to a calcific density paralleling radiographic and scintigraphic evidence of bone formation. Persistent unossified, low-density soft tissue was detected adjacent to mineralized areas of ectopic bone in 14 patients up to 16 years after neurologic injury, often with bone-scan evidence of maturity of the ectopic bone. This soft tissue most likely corresponds to immature, unossified connective tissue, which may have a potential for ossification. Detection of areas of soft-tissue density by CT and their avoidance during surgical resection of an ankylosing mass of ectopic bone may reduce intraoperative hemorrhage and postoperative ectopic bone recurrence.
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001842:Bone and Bones / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002828:Choristoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000473:pathology; D005260:Female; D006615:Hip / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009135:Muscular Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D009999:Ossification, Heterotopic / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D010388:Pelvis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003668:Pressure Ulcer / Q000150:complications; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed