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Osteoid osteoma is a benign osteoblastic tumour with
a predilection for the lower extremity that rarely affects
the forearm. It is commonly seen in adolescents and
young adults, and is seldom diagnosed in the paediatric
age group. We report a boy in his early childhood who
presented with a swelling over the distal forearm,
which was incidentally noted by the mother 3 months
ago. Plain radiographs showed diffuse sclerosis of the
dorsal cortex of the distal radius. CT scan showed a
central lucent nidus in the intramedullary region and
surrounding sclerosis in the radial metaphysis, confirming
the diagnosis of osteoid osteoma. The patient was
successfully treated by surgical en bloc resection of the
nidus and was asymptomatic at 1-year
follow-up.
Non-specific
symptoms at presentation make it a challenge to
diagnose osteoid osteoma in children and it needs to be
considered in the differential diagnosis when radiographs
show lytic lesions in the bone.