What is the characteristic radiographic appearance of Multilobular Tumor of Bone (MLTB)?

• A. Sunburst periosteal reaction
• B. Popcorn-like granular radiographic appearance
• C. Uniform sclerotic lesion
• D. Moth-eaten pattern

Answer: (B)

The main idea here is that Multilobular Tumor of Bone has a cartilaginous, multilobulated nature that mineralizes in small, discrete foci. On radiographs this shows up as internal calcifications within a largely lytic, expansile lesion, giving a popcorn-like, granular pattern. That popcorn-like calcification is the hallmark feature of MLTB and helps distinguish it from other bone lesions.

Think of it as little mineralized cartilage nodules within a lucent, multi-lobed bone lesion. In contrast, a sunburst pattern comes from rapid periosteal bone formation (often with osteosarcoma), a uniform sclerosis suggests a benign, slowly developing process, and a moth-eaten pattern indicates aggressive lytic destruction with irregular, poorly defined borders.