THORN-INDUCED "TUMORS" OF BONE

Abstract

Certain plant thorns in or near bone can cause a reaction in this tissue which may simulate a neoplasm or granuloma. The author has been able to uncover three cases. It is not known whether other organic material will cause a similar reaction. It is evident that most organic materials, such as catgut, do not cause such response in bone.

The physician should maintain a high degree of suspicion to rule out the possibility of organic material causing reaction in bone and consider it in the roentgenographic differential diagnosis of bone neoplasia.