Osteoid osteoma in the physis of calcaneum in a preadolescent - A rare case report

Introduction: Osteoid osteoma (OO) is a benign bone tumour that usually affects the shaft of the long bones in the body. It rarely occurs in the foot. Most of the time, a definite diagnosis of OO is delayed because of a misdiagnosis. In preadolescent patients, heel pain and discomfort during activities are common and usually diagnosed as osteochondritis lesions. X-rays are often not specific, and MRI findings predominantly show diffuse oedema. A CT scan is the most accurate examination that reveals the nidus. OO in the calcaneum is usually localised subperiosteally or in the cancellous bone. Case report: We present the case of an 11-year-old girl with OO of the calcaneum localised in physis. We treated her with bone core removal under CT guidance, followed by ablation. The pathology specimen confirmed the diagnosis of OO. She had a complete recovery and normal growth of the calcaneum. Conclusion: We want to draw attention to the unique case of OO localised in the physis of the calcaneum, with a review of the literature.