[Recurrence or persistence of an osteoid osteoma: a case report]

Recurrence of an osteoid osteoma treated by complete excision is thought to be very rare. Persistence of the lesion and reappearance of clinical and radiological signs have a more frequent occurrence, and are due to inadequate resection. Our case appears to be a true recurrence. It required no less than four operations first of these was probably not extensive enough. The second consisted of curettage of the osteoid osteoma after it had been exposed by abrasion of its cortical bone covering. The third and fourth resections were carried out under bone scan guidance and were controlled by postoperative radiography and computerised tomography. The uncertain aetiology of osteoid osteoma is one factor in the mysteriousness of this serial recurrence of what was apparently an ordinary osteoid osteoma. Such recurrence might be explained by an unknown persisting pathological environment.