Brodie's Abscess

This is a patient who presented with fever as well a forearm pain and swelling. Frontal and lateral radiographs of the forearm were obtained. The frontal radiograph demonstrates abnormal cortical thickening of the radius as demonstrated by the red arrow. The green arrow demonstrates a well corticated radiolucent lesion within the medullary cavity of the distal radius. This lesion is an intramedullary bone abscess also known as a Brodies abscess. The thickened cortex of the radius is secondary to chronic osteomyelitis. Overall, the findings are consistent with chronic active osteomyelitis. Treatment is surgical debridement of the osseous abscess as well as long term antibiotics.