Osteoid osteoma symptoms & treatment

Osteoid osteomas are small, benign (noncancerous) tumors that commonly develop in the thigh (femur) and shin (tibia) bones. They may also occur in the spine and the bones in the hand.

Osteoid osteomas don’t grow or spread. They may shrink after some time. However, they can be painful and cause moderate to severe bone pain that can be treated with steroidal anti-inflammatory medication (NSAIDs) or surgical intervention.

Osteoid osteomas are commonly found in children and young adults. It affects three times as many men as women.

Osteoid osteoma symptoms

If bones develop an osteoid osteoma, it causes a dull and achy pain that worsens at night.

In children, this pain may be assumed to be growing pains. Our pediatric orthopedic specialists can help you find the cause of pain and help treat your child if an osteoid osteoma is found.

Other symptoms of osteoid osteoma include:

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

Diagnosis of osteoid osteoma

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

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.

Osteoid 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.

Treatment for osteoid osteoma

Some osteoid osteomas shrink and go away on their own without treatment. Others, especially if painful, will need treatment with NSAIDs or surgery.

Common osteoid osteoma treatments 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, an orthopedic surgeon will perform surgery to remove the osteoid osteoma.

If left untreated, the swelling from osteoid osteomas in certain areas could lead to:

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

What causes osteoid osteoma tumors?

While there is no known cause of osteoid osteomas, they could develop because of inflammation or an injury in the bone.