Which tumor will not invade the physis?

Which tumor will not invade the physis?

• A. Osteosarcoma
• B. Ewing sarcoma
• C. Chondromyxoid fibroma
• D. Giant cell tumor

Answer: (C)

Growth plate (physis) acts as a barrier between the metaphysis and the epiphysis, so tumors that spread across this barrier are typically the more aggressive ones. Chondromyxoid fibroma is a benign metaphyseal lesion that grows in the metaphysis and tends to respect this barrier, expanding within the metaphysis without crossing into the epiphysis. That’s why it’s the tumor that does not invade the physis. Osteosarcoma is a malignant tumor that originates in the metaphysis and commonly breaches the physis to extend into the epiphysis. Ewing sarcoma, another aggressive tumor, can likewise extend across growth plate boundaries as it invades surrounding bone and soft tissues. Giant cell tumor arises in the epiphysis and, while it may extend toward the metaphysis, its typical pattern is confined to the epiphysis and adjacent metaphyseal region rather than crossing the physis in a manner typical of metaphyseal-invasive tumors.

Growth plate (physis) acts as a barrier between the metaphysis and the epiphysis, so tumors that spread across this barrier are typically the more aggressive ones. Chondromyxoid fibroma is a benign metaphyseal lesion that grows in the metaphysis and tends to respect this barrier, expanding within the metaphysis without crossing into the epiphysis. That’s why it’s the tumor that does not invade the physis.

Osteosarcoma is a malignant tumor that originates in the metaphysis and commonly breaches the physis to extend into the epiphysis. Ewing sarcoma, another aggressive tumor, can likewise extend across growth plate boundaries as it invades surrounding bone and soft tissues. Giant cell tumor arises in the epiphysis and, while it may extend toward the metaphysis, its typical pattern is confined to the epiphysis and adjacent metaphyseal region rather than crossing the physis in a manner typical of metaphyseal-invasive tumors.