Codman triangle

codman triangle

Codman triangle (previously referred to as Codman's triangle) is the triangular area of new subperiosteal bone that is created when a lesion, often a tumour, raises the periosteum away from the bone. ^[1] A Codman triangle is not actually a full triangle. Instead it is often a pseudotriangle on radiographic findings with ossification on the original bone and one additional side of the triangle which forms a two sided triangle with one open side. This two sided appearance in generated due to a tumor (or growth) that is growing at a rate which is faster than the periosteum can grow or expand, so instead of dimpling, the periosteum tears away and provides ossification on the second edge of the triangle. ^[2]

The main causes for this sign are osteosarcoma, Ewing's sarcoma, eumycetoma, and a subperiosteal abscess.^[3][4]

References

1. ↑ General Practioner's notebook
2. ↑ Periosteal Reaction
3. ↑ Periosteal Ewing sarcoma
4. ↑ Imaging in Classic Osteosarcoma