Myositis ossificans in the neck

Myositis ossificans is a non-neoplastic heterotopic bone formation within m uscle or soft tissues. The most commonly involved muscles are the muscles o f the upper arm and thigh. Occurrence in the head and neck is rarely encoun tered clinically. A 53-year-old Turkish man (farmer) was operated on for tr aumatic myositis ossificans circumscripta in his neck. During the operation the mass was found to originate from the scalenus medius muscle and was re adily and completely dissected from surrounding tissues. The histologic exa mination of the specimen revealed focal cartilage and mature bone tissue, w hich was compatible with the late stage of myositis ossificans. In 5 years of follow-up, the patient has remained asymptomatic and no signs of recurre nce have been noted.