Painful scoliosis in an adolescent: a diagnostic dilemma

Osteoid osteoma is a benign bone-forming tumour, seen more frequently in males than females, during the first three decades of their life. It accounts for 3% of all bone neoplasms and 10-12% of benign bone lesions. The spine is involved in approximately 10-20% of cases. A teenage boy presented with complaints of low back pain and spinal deformity for 2 years. He was previously treated for tuberculosis of that same segment empirically. A whole-body PET scan was taken, which revealed the presence of osteoid osteoma. The patient underwent complete resection of the osteoid osteoma from the L3-L4 facet joint and transforaminal lumbar interbody fusion. The patient had good pain relief following the procedure, and he was able to carry out all his daily activities on a 1-year follow-up with no recurrence.