Solitary plasmocytoma of bone in an adolescent

To describe an adolescent with solitary plasmocytoma of bone and compare the pathologic and radiographic findings with osteomyelitis. A 17-year-old girl had a 3-year history of swelling of the right tibia, local pain, and hyperemia. Initial biopsy was interpreted as osteomyelitis. The lesion was rebiopsied 3 years later and showed a plasma cell neoplasm. A review of the first biopsy confirmed a similar histologic picture. Although solitary plasmocytoma of bone is a rare neoplasm in adolescence, it must be considered in the differential diagnosis of chronic osteomyelitis.