Chondroblastomas are very rare benign primary bone tumors that typically develop in bones in young adults. Extraosseous chondroblastomas are extremely rare, with a few case reports documented in the literature. The treatment is surgical with a high healing rate. MRI is a key examination for bony forms, and our study has strengthened the MRI description reported in some cases of the extraosseous form. We describe the case of a 40-year-old woman with a chondroblastoma of the soft tissues of the hip more precising in the quadratus femoris muscle and its clinical, radiological, and MRI appearance. The patient underwent complete surgical excision of the mass, and no clinical or MRI signs of recurrence were detected after 18 months of follow-up.

This paper reviews the imaging appearance of benign and malignant bone tumors of the maxillofacial region. A benign bone tumor commonly appears as a well circumscribed lesion. The matrix of the tumor may be calcified or sclerotic. Malignancies often display aggressive characteristics such as cortical breakthrough, bone destruction, a permeative pattern and associated soft-tissue masses. Computed tomography scan is an excellent imaging modality for accurate localization of the lesion, characterization of the tumor matrix and detection of associated osseous changes such as bone remodeling, destruction or periosteal reaction. Magnetic resonance imaging is of limited value in the evaluation of maxillofacial bone tumors.