An extreme entity in differential diagnosis of musculoskeletal involvement-fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva: a case based review

Abstract

Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva is one of the most devastating disorderof mankind characterized by progressive heterotopic ossification. Apart fromhallux valgus, other symptoms start to develop in the first decade of life.The initial symptoms are tumefactive lesions on the back that gives animpression of benign or malignant tumoral lesion. It may cause restrictedmotion of the neck and shoulders and magnetic resonance imaging of thelesions may be reported as myositis or myofasciitis and these children maybe referred to rheumatologists. Currently there is no definitive treatment ofthe disease but the most important issue in these patients is “primum nonnocere”, because any invasive procedure could potentially trigger a flare andheterotopic calcification. Herein, we present a young case of fibrodysplasiaossificans progressiva to remind the typical signs and symptoms of the diseaseto all clinicians caring for children.