The rare aggressive osteoblastoma in a two year old child in an unusual localization

A rare bone tumor of 3rd metacarpal bone in a male child aged 2 years is being described. The patent presented with a gradually increasing, painful swelling over the dorsum of right hand which radiologically revealed an expansile, radioluscent mass, in 3rd metacarpal shaft with cortical destruction. The clinic-radiological differential diagnosis was aggressive cartilage tumor or an osteomyelitis. Histological examination of surgical biopsy material revealed randomly arranged woven bone lined by epithelioid osteoblast and after correlating the clinic-radiological features the diagnosis was an aggressive osteoblastoma. Appropriate diagnosis of such a rare tumor in an unusual location and age group facilitate adequate management by surgery alone without radiotherapy or chemotherapy.