Osteoid Osteoma of the Odontoid: Case Report and Literature Review

Osteoid osteoma is a small tumor of bone which affect spine in 10% of cases. The tumor has tendency to neural arc and the lumbar spine is most common site of presentation. Lesions of odontoid process are very rare. We present a 20-year-old man who had cervical pain for 8 month. The pain respond to medical therapy. After investigation there was a lytic lesion at the odontoid process with characteristic features of osteoid osteoma in CT-scan and MRI examination. At first medical treatment with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs was initiated but due to adverse effects and worsening of his pain the patient underwent surgical treatment with partial odontoidectomy from the anterior transoral approach and posterior C1-C2 fusion was performed. The pain disappeared and, after one year fallow up, the patient was symptom free.