Osteoid Osteomas of the Lumbar Spine: A Descriptive Study of the Diagnostic Imaging Features

Osteoid osteoma is a benign bone tumor, accounting for approximately 12 % of all benign skeletal neoplasms. It occurs most frequently in young male patients between first to third decades of life. The most common presenting symptom is pain, that worsens at night and is promptly relieved by the administration of salicylates.10 to 20 % of osteoid osteomas occur in the spine, most commonly involving the lumbar segments, with a predilection for the posterior elements. We present a descriptive study of 260 patients presenting with complaints of low backache, worsening at night, for more than 1 year duration. Osteoid osteomas localized to the lumbar spine were diagnosed in 12 patients. We report the various imaging manifestations of the tumor, with discussion of the diagnostic features on various imaging modalities.