Radiologic diagnosis of osteoid osteoma: from simple to challenging findings

• Published in: Radiographics Vol. 30; no. 3; p. 737
• Main Authors: Chai, Jee Won, Hong, Sung Hwan, Choi, Ja-Young, Koh, Young Hwan, Lee, Joon Woo, Choi, Jung-Ah, Kang, Heung Sik
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.05.2010
• Subjects: Bone Neoplasms - diagnosis; Diagnosis, Differential; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging - methods; Osteoma, Osteoid - diagnosis; Osteosarcoma - diagnosis; Tomography, X-Ray Computed - methods
• ISSN: 1527-1323
• DOI: 10.1148/rg.303095120

Osteoid osteoma is characterized by an intracortical nidus with a variable amount of calcification, as well as cortical thickening, sclerosis, and bone marrow edema. When these findings are present, a diagnosis of osteoid osteoma is easily made. However, osteoid osteoma may display imaging findings that can be misleading, and it can be difficult to differentiate osteoid osteoma from other conditions such as infection, inflammatory and noninflammatory arthritis, and other tumors. In addition, stress fracture, intracortical abscess, intracortical hemangioma, chondroblastoma, osteoblastoma, and compensatory hypertrophy of the pedicle may mimic osteoid osteoma. To make the correct diagnosis, it is necessary to identify the nidus, and it is important to be familiar with the radiologic findings of osteoid osteoma and its mimics.