BENIGN BONE-TUMORS IN THE GROWTH YEARS - OSTEOID OSTEOMA AND OSTEOBLASTOMA

Osteoid osteoma (ICD: 9191/0) and osteoblastoma (ICD: 9200/0) are clos ely related entities of osteoblastic-type tumors. Osteoid osteoma is a small benign (lesion 1-2 cm or less) neoplasm that is richly vascular ized. Nerve fibers within the tissue surrounding the nidus lead to the characteristic pain. A typical finding is the perifocal osseous react ion around the nidus. Osteoblastoma is a progressively growing lesion of a diameter larger than 2 cm; it is sometimes painful and is charact erized by the absence of any reactive perifocal bone formation. For bo th tumors the treatment is complete surgical excision. If the nidus of the osteoid osteoma is removed, the patient will be free of pain. For the osteoblastoma the treatment depends on the stage and localization of the tumor. Forty-seven patients with osteoid osteoma and 10 patien ts with osteoblastoma have been treated in Heidelberg since 1980. The radiological investigations and surgical treatment are discussed.