Osteoid Osteoma in the Thumb of an Adolescent Patient

Osteoid osteoma is a relatively common benign tumor of bone, typically presenting in the diaphysis of long bones during the second or third decades of life. This tumor is rarely reported in the hand and wrist, making up only approximately 10% of cases. When reported in the hand, osteoid osteoma tends to occur more frequently in the proximal phalanx of the index and middle fingers. We present the case of an osteoid osteoma in an adolescent male in the distal phalanx of the thumb. The presentation of this osteoid osteoma was atypical owing to its location and lack of characteristic clinical features, making the initial work-up and final diagnosis challenging and pointing to the importance of considering this diagnosis on a differential for painful bony tumors in the hand.