# Early Detection for Better Patient Outcome: A Case Report on Two Patients Presenting With Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva at Tikur Anbessa Specialized Hospital, Ethiopia

## TL;DR

This case report highlights two rare cases of Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva in Ethiopia, emphasizing the need for early detection and avoiding harmful interventions.

## Contribution

The paper presents the first two documented cases of the disease in Ethiopia and advocates for better awareness and education among caregivers.

## Key findings

- Only one case of Fibrodysplasia Ossificans Progressiva had been reported in Ethiopia before this study.
- Two patients were referred for biopsy due to misdiagnosis of a painless lump.
- The report stresses the importance of early detection and avoiding unnecessary interventions.

## Abstract

Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva is an ultrarare disorder of endochondral ossification. It is unfamiliar to most care providers in low-income countries such as Ethiopia. Even though the clinical presentation is typical, most cases remain misdiagnosed in our region. Moreover, we hypothesize that many such cases undergo unnecessary or harmful interventions for a painless lump. In Ethiopia, with a population of approximately 120 million, only one case has been reported in the literature so far. We present two cases that were referred to our institution for a biopsy of a mass. This report is aimed at summarizing the typical presentation of the disease and at highlighting the harmful interventions one should avoid in such patients. We also hope that this report serves as an entry point to try to find more patients with this similar condition early in their clinical course. Furthermore, we believe that in order to lessen the overall impact of the illness, it is crucial to provide caregivers with health education about the causes of disease flare-ups.