Most patients are between 5 and 20 years of age, but the tumor may present at any age.
Most occur in a long bone, but any bone may be affected.
The male to female ratio is approximately 2 to 1.
Clinical findings:
(1) localized pain
(1a) pain at night
(1b) pain relieved by aspirin
(1c) tender on palpation
(2) bone change
(2a) limb length discrepancy (with affected bone usually longer)
(2b) limp if in a lower extremity
(2c) deformity
(2d) scoliosis if in a vertebral body
(3) muscle change
(3a) decreased strength
(3b) contracture
(3c) atrophy
(4) decreased range of motion in adjacent joint
(5) limb swelling
Imaging findings:
(1) A plain film may show an area of radiolucency termed the nidus, which is smooth, regular, well-delineated, and oval to round in shape, typically in cortical bone.
(2) The nidus is surrounded by a rim of homogeneous sclerotic bone.
(3) If the tumor is not seen on plain films, then it may be found with
(3a) technetium bone scan
(3b) CT or MRI scan
Differential diagnosis:
(1) osteomyelitis
(2) tuberculosis
(3) fracture
(4) Legg-Calve-Perthes disease
(5) growing pains
plus many other conditions
