Intraosseous Lipomas: Plain Radiography and Multidetector Computed Tomography Imaging Features in Three Cases

Intraosseous lipomas are rare primary benign tumors of the bone. Their radiologic appearance can vary due to the degree of involution and necrosis, both on radiographs and computed tomography (CT) scans. Radiographically, these lesions may mimic other benign lesions such as fibrous dysplasia, aneurysmal bone cysts, simple cysts, bone infarcts, and chondroid tumors. Visualizing fat within these lesions helps in diagnosis. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and CT can be diagnostic whereas radiographs can be ambiguous, especially if there is necrosis within the lesion. In this report, we aimed to discuss the imaging features of intraosseous lipomas in plain radiographs and multidetector computed tomography (MDCT) scans in three patients, and to review the pertinent literature about this rare benign osseous pathology.