Osteoid osteoma symptoms & treatment

An osteoid osteoma is a noncancerous (benign) bone tumor. They commonly form in the thigh (femur) and shin (tibia) bones. Sometimes they form in the spine and the bones in the hand.

Osteoid osteomas don't grow or spread anywhere else in the body. The tumors are small – less than 2 cm – and may go away on their own after a few years. However, they may cause discomfort and bone pain that can be treated with non-steroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) or surgical intervention.Anyone can develop an osteoid osteoma. It’s commonly found in children and young adults and affects three times as many men as women.

Symptoms of osteoid osteoma

When bones are impacted by an osteoid osteoma, it usually causes a constant, dull and achy pain that worsens at night.

In children, this pain may be assumed to be growing pains. If your child often complains about bone pain, our pediatric specialists can help.

Other common osteoid osteoma symptoms include:

• Swelling
• Decrease in muscle size
• Joint pain and stiffness
• Limping
• One leg may be longer than the other

Diagnosis of osteoid osteoma

Our orthopedic specialists will discuss symptoms and complete a physical exam. If an osteoid osteoma diagnosis is suspected, they may order imaging tests.

Imaging tests include:

• X-ray: An X-ray provides detailed images of bones and internal structures called radiographs.
• CT scan: Like an X-ray but more powerful, a CT scan reveals the location, size and placement of the osteoid osteoma.
• MRI scan: MRIs can show the outline of a bone tumor.
• Bone scan: An imaging test that uses a small amount of radioactive dye as a tracer to locate an osteoid osteoma.

Osteoid osteoma vs. osteoblastoma and osteoma tumors

Osteoblastoma and osteoma tumors are like osteoid osteoma but have key differences.

Osteoma tumors are benign tumors like osteoid osteoma but are found in the bones of the skull and head. Osteoblastoma tumors are also usually benign, but are bigger, more aggressive and have the potential to become cancerous. They're often found in the skull, back and neck bones.

Osteoid osteoma treatment

At Aurora, our orthopedic specialists use minimally invasive procedures whenever possible. Some osteoid osteomas shrink and go away on their own without treatment.

The most common treatment for osteoid osteomas is NSAIDs. In cases where there is severe pain and symptoms, treatment will likely include surgery.

Common treatment options for osteoid osteoma include:

• NSAIDs: Over-the-counter or prescription NSAIDs relieve pain and may help speed up the shrinkage of the osteoid osteoma.

• Radiofrequency ablation: Minimally invasive treatment technique that uses heat, cold and electric currents to shrink bone tumors.

• Osteoid osteoma surgery: If less invasive treatment options are not shrinking or lessening symptoms, surgery will be recommended to remove the osteoid osteoma.

If left untreated, some complications could arise. They include:

• Scoliosis, a curve in the spine (tumor is in the spine)
• Bone deformity (tumor is in the small bones, like the hand)
• Deformity or stiffness in a joint (tumor is near a bone joint)

What causes osteoid osteoma tumors?

There’s no known cause of osteoid osteomas, but research suggests they could develop due to inflammation or an injury in the bone.