Adamantinoma of tibia: a study of 12 cases

BACKGROUND: Adamantinoma is a rare tumor of long bones that can be mistaken for a carcinoma, and numerous other lesions such as myoepithelial tumor, malignant mixed tumor of bone, fibrous dysplasia/osteofibrous dysplasia, and vascular tumors. METHODS: The histology and clinical features of 12 cases accrued from the surgical pathology files over a period of 23 years were analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 12 cases, 4 were men and 8 women, with a mean age of 30 years. Radiologically the tumor presented as a lytic, eccentric, intracortical lesion in the tibia. The histology revealed epithelial islands with basaloid, spindle, and squamous features on a background of fibrotic stroma. Three patients came back with local recurrences, and one of them developed pulmonary metastasis. DISCUSSION: In this article, an attempt is made to study the morphology, biology, and the differential diagnoses of adamantinoma of long bones.