Step 1: The radiograph shows a lytic, oval lesion oriented along the long axis of a tubular bone, surrounded by a thick rim of reactive sclerosis that fades imperceptibly into the surrounding bone. This is a Brodie abscess.
Step 2: A Brodie abscess is an intraosseous abscess arising from a focus of subacute pyogenic osteomyelitis. It typically presents in children with unfused epiphyseal plates and is more common in boys.
Step 3: Its favoured site is the metaphysis of tubular bones, most often the proximal or distal tibia. A lucent, tortuous channel extending toward the growth plate is pathognomonic, and periosteal new-bone formation with soft-tissue swelling may be seen.
Step 4: Osteoid osteoma (option b) shows a small central nidus with dense surrounding sclerosis and night pain relieved by NSAIDs, not a draining channel. Intracortical hemangioma (c) and chondromyxoid fibroma (d) have different appearances and locations, so they are incorrect.