Intermittent, localized pain exacerbated at night and relieved by aspirin or nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications (NSAIDs) is the most common complaint of a patient suffering from an osteoid osteoma.  Swelling is the next most common symptom and is thought to be due to the increased vascular supply to the tumor from prostaglandin release within the nidus.  Other symptoms include bone deformity, muscle atrophy, and gait disturbances.  If the tumor is intra-articular or located close to a joint, synovitis, effusion, arthritic changes, and contractures may be present.  Osteoid osteomas that affect the femur and tibia have been shown to cause a limb length discrepancy.  In a study of 4 patients, the affected limb was longer than the unaffected limb.  The authors postulated this was likely the result of increased blood supply to a lesion close to an open growth plate.[7]

As with any other bone tumor, plain radiography is the initial exam of choice. The appearance of an osteoid osteoma on plain film is classically a small, round, radiolucent nidus with surrounding sclerosis.  The nidus itself may contain areas of calcification.  Three-phase skeletal scintigraphy is an option if conventional radiographs are inconclusive.[3]  The "double density sign" is characteristic of an osteoid osteoma when evaluating three-phase bone scintigraphy; this is demonstrated as intense focal uptake centrally surrounded by an area of less intense uptake peripherally.[3]  Thin-slice CT imaging is considered the imaging modality of choice.  CT scans are effective in identifying the anatomic location of the nidus.  The characteristic finding on a CT scan is a target-shaped nidus.[8]  Bone marrow edema appreciated on MRI can mask the typical features of the tumor, and therefore, MRI is less useful than CT for the evaluation of osteoid osteomas.  However, MRI is more accurate than CT in diagnosing cancellous lesions.  Hosalkar et al. compared the diagnostic accuracy of MRI versus CT in a prospective study in children.  They concluded the correct diagnosis of osteoid osteoma was only 3% with MRI images versus 67% of CT images.[7]

Conservative management with NSAIDs is considered a reasonable option in the treatment of osteoid osteomas.  Resolution of symptoms from conservative management has been documented to occur at 33 months.[7]  However, the negative effects of long term NSAID use prohibit it from being a definitive treatment.  Furthermore, recurrence rates following the discontinuation of NSAIDs have no clear documentation in the literature. 

Surgical excision is the preferred treatment for an osteoid osteoma.  Historically, open en bloc surgical resection with removal of the nidus was considered curative.  However, wide block resection of bone in a weight-bearing area has disadvantages including prolonged restriction of physical activity, the potential for pathologic fracture, and requirement of bone grafting with internal fixation.

Less invasive surgical options have been explored to minimize damage to the normal, surrounding bone.  Currently, the treatment of choice is CT guided percutaneous radiofrequency ablation.[6]  With the guidance of CT, the radiofrequency electrode gets inserted into the nidus, and the nidus is thermally ablated.  Documented success with this procedure is as high as 90%.[6]

The principal differential diagnoses of an osteoid osteoma include chondroblastoma, bone infarction, Brodie’s abscess, stress fracture, chronic osteomyelitis, focal cortical bone abscess, glomus tumor, sclerosing osteitis, solitary enostosis, and an early stage of Ewing's sarcoma.[6][9][10]

An osteoid osteoma has a good prognosis as it is a benign process with no potential for malignant degeneration.  If conservative management fails, complete surgical excision is curative.

If an osteoid osteoma affects the epiphysis, elongation of the limb may occur which can result in a limb length discrepancy.  If radiofrequency ablation is performed to treat the benign bone tumor, there are several identified complications, although they are rare.  These include cellulitis, thrombophlebitis, nerve damage, skin burns, and reflex sympathetic dystrophy.  To reduce the risk of neurovascular damage or damage to the skin, it is recommended radiofrequency ablation be reserved for lesions greater than 1.5 cm from a neurovascular bundle and greater than 1.0 cm from the surface of the skin.[11]

Historically, wide en bloc excision was performed to treat osteoid osteomas.  However, excessive removal of normal surrounding bone resulted in weak bone and prolonged periods of immobilization.  With the advent of newer technology and options for surgical excision, the postoperative course has changed significantly.  With percutaneous techniques such as radiofrequency ablation, there is minimal damage to the surrounding unaffected tissue which allows immediate weight bearing and the return to daily activities. 

Timely consultation with an interventional radiologist or foot and ankle specialist is the recommendation for diagnosis and treatment of a patient with symptomatic osteoid osteoma.

An osteoid osteoma is a benign bone-forming tumor that has no potential to become malignant. It classically causes severe pain at night relieved with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory medications.  Occasionally, it resolves without treatment.  If it is painful, initial treatment consists of anti-inflammatory medications.  The lesion can undergo surgical excision if conservative management fails to provide relief of symptoms.

The diagnosis and treatment of an osteoid osteoma require an interprofessional team of a foot and ankle specialist, pharmacist, radiologist, pathologist, and physical therapist. Once an appropriate history and physical is obtained, the treatment protocol can be established which will determine the level of involvement of the various specialties. A delay in diagnosis may occur due to the vast differential diagnoses and difficulty with diagnostic imaging interpretation. However, a complete history and physical performed by the specialist combined with the imaging interpretation of the radiologist will dictate the treatment protocol.[2] (Level V)