Osteoid osteoma and osteoblastoma of the talus

Forty patients with osteoid osteoma or osteoblastoma of the talus are presented. Clinical and radiographic findings, histologic features, and therapy of these lesions are discussed. The body of the talus was involved in two patients, all other lesions being located in the neck of the bone. Subperiosteal lesions accounted for 75% of cases, and medullary lesions for 25%. Thirty of the 40 lesions were paraarticular. Five radiographic appearances in the talus are discussed: subperiosteal target lesions of the neck (54%); medullary lesions of the neck (20%); subperiosteal radiolucent lesions of the neck (13%); medullary lesions of the body (5%); and exostotic osteoid osteoma of the talar neck (3%).Supported by Grant No. 85.02793.44, Special Project Oncology, Italian National Council of Researchers     

Osteoid osteoma of the femoral neck in the young athlete

The purpose of this paper is to present a progressive diagnostic and management program for osteoid osteoma of the femoral neck in the young athlete. Five young athletes with hip pain secondary to osteoid osteoma are presented. The average age of the patients was 15 years old, with an average followup of 4 years. Radioisotope bone scans, computed axial tomograms, and linear tomograms were valuable diagnostic aids. All five athletes were treated with a limited excisional biopsy via an anterior approach to the femoral neck. Associated treatment modalities, such as bone grafting, internal fixation, and cast immobilization, were not necessary. There were no major complications. The five young athletes returned to sports at an average of 4 months postoperatively. Osteoid osteoma of the femoral neck should be included in the differential diagnosis of hip pain in young athletes. A limited excisional biopsy provided a rapid return to sports for the young athlete without the potential morbidity associated with internal fixation, bone grafting, and cast immobilization.     

Osteoid osteoma

Osteoid osteoma is a benign skeletal neoplasm composed of osteoid and woven bone that rarely exceeds 1.5 cm in greatest dimension. The lesion is most commonly located in the cortex of long bones where it is associated with dense, fusiform, reactive sclerosis. Less often, it may be cancellous, where reactive osteosclerosis is usually less intense and may be distant from the lesion. Cancellous lesions are frequently intraarticular (most often in the hip) and may be associated with synovitis and joint effusion. Rarely, osteoid osteomas occur in a subperiosteal location. Patients are usually young, and there is a strong male predominance. Pain is the most common symptom. Radiographs of patients with cortical osteoid osteoma are often diagnostic. Intraarticular lesions, however, may be subtle, and scintigraphy may be required to locate the lesion for subsequent computed tomography (CT). CT is useful to identify and precisely locate the lesion and to provide guidance for percutaneous localization or treatment.     

Arthroscopic removal of the osteoid osteoma on the neck of the talus

Juxta-articular osteoid osteomas arising around the ankle are unusual. Tumors arising on the neck of the talus will commonly produce symptoms mimicking monoarticular arthritis or trauma. Patients are usually treated for arthritis or ankle sprain, which often leads to a delay in definitive diagnosis. We present an arthroscopic removal of an osteoid osteoma on the neck of talus, and review the literature.     

Osteoid osteoma of the elbow

Six cases of osteoid osteoma of the elbow were reviewed to determine the spectrum of clinical, pathologic and radiologic findings. Since osteoid osteoma of the elbow may masquerade as a nonspecific synovitis, the diagnosis is challenging and frequently delayed. The histology is, however, indistinguishable from that of osteoid osteoma occurring in typical locations. The radiologic features of osteoid osteoma of the elbow include the following triad: (a) osteosclerosis, usually a dominant feature at initial imaging and typically enveloping the nidus; (b) joint effusion; and (c) periosteal reaction that can involve both the bone in which the osteoid osteoma arises and adjacent bones. Awareness of these features will facilitate correct diagnosis, thereby facilitating timely and appropriate treatment.The opinions and assertions contained herein are the private views of the authors and are not to be construed as official or as reflecting the views of the Department of the Army, the Department of Defense or the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences     

Osteoid osteoma of the spine

High resolution CT has become crucial to the definite diagnosis, accurate localisation and extension of benign spinal tumors. An osteoid osteoma mostly suspected by X-ray or scintigraphy, located in the axial skeleton--mainly of spongious content and with a complex anatomical structure--will be definitely more distinctly visualized on CT. Post-operative evaluation also requires CT.     

Osteoid osteoma of the femoral neck mistaken as a synovial herniation pit

A 36-year-old man presented with 1 year of atraumatic left lateral thigh, groin, and hip pain, and imaging consistent with the diagnosis of femoroacetabular impingement and a labral tear. Imaging concurrently demonstrated a synovial herniation pit. The patient underwent hip arthroscopy, which included femoroplasty, acetabuloplasty, labral debridement, and synovectomy. His pain persisted and further workup confirmed an osteoid osteoma that was mimicking a synovial herniation pit. The osteoid osteoma was treated with radiofrequency ablation. At 18 months follow-up, the patient reported complete resolution of his symptoms. We present the case to highlight distinguishing imaging and clinical findings of these similar-appearing lesions. While neither condition is particularly rare individually, the misidentification of osteoid osteoma as a synovial herniation pit is a unique feature of this case that lead to the patient''s protracted clinical course.     

Osteoid osteoma in the mandible

A case of osteoid osteoma (OO) in the mandible of 26-year-old female is presented. Her main complaint was intermittent pain during a 3 year period. The panoramic radiograph of the mandible showed diffuse sclerosis including an ill-defined circular radiopacity in the molar region. Computed tomography (CT) revealed an osseous lesion of 10 mm diameter that was located in the cortical bone of the mandible. Bone scintigraphy showed a localized region of high uptake of 99mTc HMDP. The lesion was diagnosed as an OO by histopathological examination of the surgical specimen and CT findings. Since radiological appearance has very significant meaning in the differentiation of an OO from other bone forming tumors, CT is the method of choice when the main symptom is pain and the conventional radiography was not informative.     

Osteoid osteoma of the cervical spine

Summary The authors studied the usefulness of MR imaging in the diagnosis of an osteoid osteoma occuring within the C4 left uncinate process. It was detected by scintigraphy and diagnosed by CT. On T2-weighted MR images the nidus showed a very low signal intensity with an increased signal within the adjacent end-plates. This pattern was misleading and more suggestive of degenerative disk disease.     

Osteoid osteoma of the petrous bone

We present a case of osteoid osteoma of the petrous bone presenting with progressive sensorineural hearing loss. CT showed a dense homogeneous mass at the promontory surrounded by a thin bony border. On MRI this lesion gave intermediate signal intensity on T1- and T2-weighted spin-echo images and enhanced intensely with gadolinium. Surgical removal and pathological study proved the diagnosis. Received: 13 February 1997 Accepted: 21 February 1997     

Osteoid osteoma: the difficult diagnosis

The diagnosis of osteoid osteoma can be difficult. We present eight children where the diagnosis of osteoid osteoma was difficult, due to a clinical history suggesting an alternative diagnosis, misleading radiological findings, or where the osteoid osteoma was in an unusual site. In some cases, diagnosis was only reached after biopsy, despite radiological investigation and radioisotope studies. The diagnosis should be considered in a child with bony pain or bony swelling, especially where the history is a chronic one. We present a radiological algorithm for the investigation of patients suspected of having an osteoid osteoma.     

Osteoid osteoma and osteoblastoma of the vertebrae

Five cases of osteoid osteoma and five cases of osteoblastoma of the spine are reported. All the patients underwent surgery and the radiographic diagnosis was always histologically confirmed. Conventional radiographic technique using tomography constantly permitted the diagnosis. Computed tomography was primarily useful for spatial localization of the lesion. The authors evaluate the radiographic findings of the two lesions discussing the symptoms which are suspected for these pathologic conditions. Bone scintigraphy must precede radiological examination.     

Subperiosteal osteoid osteoma of the talus

We report three patients with subperiosteal osteoid osteoma of the talus. All showed an erosion of the dorsal surface of the talus with medullary bone sclerosis. Adjacent paraosseous soft tissue calcification was seen in two lesions. Computed tomography demonstrated the nidus of the osteoid osteoma in two cases.     

Osteoid osteoma: radionuclide diagnosis

The double-density sign, seen on radionuclide bone scans, is described for diagnosing osteoid osteomas and for localizing the nidus. Its use in differentiating the nidus of an osteoid osteoma from osteomyelitis is also described. The utility of computed tomography in localization of the nidus is also illustrated. The double-density sign was helpful in diagnosing seven cases of surgically confirmed osteoid osteoma.     

Osteoid osteoma: CT-guided percutaneous treatment

Seven patients with presumed osteoid osteoma were treated with percutaneous destruction or drill resection with computed tomographic (CT) guidance. The diagnosis of osteoid osteoma was made on the basis of findings in the clinical history and results at plain radiography, bone scintigraphy, and CT. In four patients, histologic confirmation was obtained. Hospital stay lasted from 1 to 3 days. After 11-38 months of follow-up examinations, all patients were asymptomatic. The authors report this simple procedure as an alternative to the more traditional open surgery technique.