LATE DIAGNOSIS OF OSTEOID OSTEOMA

The diagnosis of osteoid osteoma may be difficult. The authors describ e a case in which it took three and a half years to establish the corr ect diagnosis. The patient presented with low hack and thigh pain. The combined symptoms of back and leg pain were thought to be due to radi culopathy from lumbo-sacral disc disease. Abnormalities in magnetic re sonance images of the lumbar spine supported this diagnosis. The possi bility of a local cause for this pain was only considered when treatme nt aimed at the back failed to provide relief. Plain radiographs of th e femur revealed an osteoid osteoma. The lesion was curetted with a go od result. Any patient presenting with night pain relieved by oral sal icylates should arouse suspicion of an osteoid osteoma.