What is an osteoid osteoma?
An osteoid osteoma is a benign, bone-forming tumor that occurs most often in the long bones of the lower extremities. The femur (thigh bone) is the most common location of occurrence, although it can emerge in the bones of the hand and it sometimes occurs in the lower part of the spine. Osteoid osteomas are very small tumors that do not grow larger that half an inch in diameter. They usually emerge sometime during the teenage years or early adulthood. The condition seems to occur more often in males than females. These tumors, while causing painful symptoms, typically do not progress or harm the host bone, although in young children, those located near a growth plate, may deform the host bone, or stimulate the bone to grow larger or longer. They do not, however, metastasize (spread) beyond the bone. If located near a joint, they may be associated with swelling or fluid in the joint.
