Brodie's abscess of the femoral neck simulating osteoid osteoma

Subacute osteomyelitis (Brodie's abscess) is essentially a problem of diagnosis, and there may be considerable difficulty in distinguishing it from other benign and malignant bone lesions. Though reported in the metaphyseal region of the femur, Brodie's abscess is rarer in the femoral neck. The authors present a case of Brodie's abscess in the femoral neck, which clinico-radiologically simulated an osteoid osteoma. Retrospectively, the presence of a cortical sinus tract should have aroused suspicion.