Osteoid osteoma after a stress fracture of the tibia: a case report

A 24-year-old man presented with a stress fracture over his left tibia following an infantry training 6 years ago. X-rays of his left tibia revealed a stress fracture and bone scan showed marked tracer uptake at the fracture. He was treated conservatively but his pain persisted since then. Five years later, X-rays and histological examination confirmed the diagnosis of osteoid osteoma. The stress fracture may act as a trigger for the formation of osteoid osteoma and caused a delay in diagnosis.