musculoskeletal and connective tissue disorders
Benign Bone Tumors and Cysts
Osteoblastoma
Osteoblastoma is a rare benign tumor that consists of tissue histologically similar to that of an Osteoid osteoma . Some experts simply consider them large osteoid osteomas (> 2 cm). Osteoblastoma is much more common among males and appears typically between ages 10 and 35. The tumor develops in the bone of the spine, legs, hands, and feet. It is a slow-growing tumor that destroys normal bone. This tumor is painful. Imaging is with plain films, CT, and MRI. Usually an open biopsy is warranted to make an accurate diagnosis of osteoblastoma. Treatment of osteoblastoma requires surgery, often curettage and bone grafting. The local recurrence rate for lesions that are treated with intralesional curettage may be as high as 10 to 20%. More aggressive-appearing lesions are treated with surgical en bloc resection and bony reconstruction. A variation called aggressive osteoblastoma is similar to osteosarcoma both radiographically and histologically. 