Osteoma is a benign tumor that grows near or into bones, commonly found in children. They can be removed easily, but caution is required during spinal surgery. Removal is important to prevent hindering normal movement and muscle growth. Methods include curettage, percutaneous radiofrequency ablation, and en bloc resection. Follow-up is necessary as tumors can recur.
Osteoma is a type of benign tumor, typically formed by an abnormal growth of bone and other tissue that usually grows near or into bones. Most commonly these cancerous growths are found in children. In many cases, the tumors can be removed easily. Because they are benign, they are not at risk of spreading the cancer to other parts of the body, although it is not uncommon for children who have had one osteoma to have another one at the same site or to develop another tumor in a different bone section of the body .
Frequently, the tumors are fairly easy to remove, and most of these tumors occur on the femur or hand bones. A more serious version of the tumor can develop if there is an osteoma in the spine. Any spinal surgery carries significant risk, as there is a risk of paralysis and cutting of the spinal cord. When a spinal tumor is present, due caution is required during surgical treatment.
It is important to remove these tumors because they can continue to build up mass and create hard bone structures that can hinder normal movement. They can also be painful, particularly at night, cause lameness, and interfere with normal muscle growth and health. There are several ways to remove them.
The most direct method for removal is called curettage, where the tumor is extracted from within the bone. As this leaves a gap in the bone, it is filled with bone tissue from a matching donor. In children, these surgeries can have excellent results with normal bone growth afterwards.
A newer procedure is called percutaneous radiofrequency ablation. The tumor is exposed to radiofrequency waves via a needle to kill the tumor and prevent further growth. Many people opt for this procedure as it is considered minimally invasive and can be done under a sedative rather than general anesthesia. However, very aggressive or large tumors may not respond well to this treatment.
In severe cases, orthopedic surgeons may need to perform a surgical procedure called en bloc resection. This literally removes a segment of the bone that contains the tumor. This is an atypical treatment for osteoma today, but was done more regularly in the past.
People who have had a single osteoma should be followed up by an orthopedist on an annual or even more frequent basis as these tumors can recur. It is not known what causes osteomas and the sudden abnormal growth of tissue. In most cases, those suffering from this condition lead very normal lives and have few restrictions on activities after completion of treatment.
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