title: A rare case of pediatric Nontraumatic Myositis Ossificans in the posterior triangle.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Myositis Ossificans Cicumscripta is a rare condition characterized by aberrant bone formation in paramuscular soft tissue of the extremities usually associated with trauma or a genetic mutation. Very few cases involve the head or neck and it is rarely found in the pediatric population.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  We present a case of a 5-month old with a rapidly growing posterior neck mass suspicious for neoplasia, which was treated with surgical resection and found to be a non-traumatic, non-genetic form of Myositis Ossificans. The workup, treatment, and findings of the patient are outlined and a review of the literature on this disease is discussed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Myositis Ossificans is characterized by aberrant bone formation typically occurring after trauma but may be secondary to an underlying genetic abnormality. The case presented in the absence of trauma or an underlying genetic abnormality and is therefore an exceedingly rare instance of the sporadic form that presented spontaneously in the head and neck of a pediatric patient.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Floating Hospital for Children, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, United States. Electronic address: Jonathan.simmonds@tufts.edu.
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Simmonds
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Floating Hospital for Children, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, United States. Electronic address: ntaki@tuftsmedicalcenter.org.
authors.forename: Nizar
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Taki
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, Floating Hospital for Children, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, United States. Electronic address: ichilton@tuftsmedicalcenter.org.
authors.forename: Ilana
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Chilton
authors.affiliation: Chief of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Department of Pediatric Otolaryngology, Floating Hospital for Children, Tufts Medical Center, Boston, MA, United States. Electronic address: mvecchiotti@tuftsmedialcenter.org.
authors.forename: Mark
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Vecchiotti
mesh_terms: D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D009221:Myositis Ossificans / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology / Q000601:surgery; D037981:Neck Dissection; D064171:Superficial Back Muscles
keywords: Atraumatic Myositis Ossificans; Myositis Ossificans; Nontraumatic Myositis Ossificans