STUDY DESIGN: Case report.OBJECTIVES: To report a case of osteoid osteoma arising in the sacrum in a 29-year-old male patient.SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: Osteoid osteoma is a benign osteoblastic tumor that usually arises in the long bones. Osteoid osteoma involving the sacrum is extremely rare.MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 29-year-old male patient presented with pain localized in his sacral area for 10 months. His pain was worse at night, relieved by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and independent of physical activity. Bone scintigraphy showed increased uptake in the second sacral vertebra (S2). Computed tomography revealed a nidus located in the S2 spinous process. Magnetic resonance imaging showed bone and soft tissue edema around the nidus.RESULTS: En bloc excision including the nidus revealed a diagnosis of osteoid osteoma and provided immediate relief of the patient's long-lasting sacral pain.CONCLUSIONS: When a young patient presents with localized sacral pain that is worse at night, relieved by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, independent of physical activity, and lasts longer than expected, proper imaging studies should be performed to rule out osteoid osteoma. Although less invasive treatment modalities have been introduced, classical en bloc excision is currently the gold standard for managing osteoid osteoma.
Adult ; Diagnosis ; Edema ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Motor Activity ; Osteoblasts ; Osteoma, Osteoid ; Radionuclide Imaging ; Sacrum ; Spine

OBJECTIVES: To report a case of osteoid osteoma arising in the sacrum in a 29-year-old male patient.SUMMARY OF LITERATURE REVIEW: Osteoid osteoma is a benign osteoblastic tumor that usually arises in the long bones. Osteoid osteoma involving the sacrum is extremely rare. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A 29-year-old male patient presented with pain localized in his sacral area for 10 months. His pain was worse at night, relieved by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, and independent of physical activity. Bone scintigraphy showed increased uptake in the second sacral vertebra (S2). Computed tomography revealed a nidus located in the S2 spinous process. Magnetic resonance imaging showed bone and soft tissue edema around the nidus. RESULTS: En bloc excision including the nidus revealed a diagnosis of osteoid osteoma and provided immediate relief of the patient's long-lasting sacral pain. CONCLUSIONS When a young patient presents with localized sacral pain that is worse at night, relieved by non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, independent of physical activity, and lasts longer than expected, proper imaging studies should be performed to rule out osteoid osteoma. Although less invasive treatment modalities have been introduced, classical en bloc excision is currently the gold standard for managing osteoid osteoma.