title: Osteoid osteoma of a metacarpal bone: a case report and review of the literature.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Osteoid osteoma is a benign tumor of the growing skeleton. It presents with pain, which is usually worse at night. The radiographic features consist of a central oval or round nidus surrounded first by a radiolucent area followed by another area of sclerotic bone. In the hand, osteoid osteoma is more commonly located in the phalanges and carpal bones. The metacarpals are the least common sites for osteoid osteoma.
  
  
  METHODS
  We present a case of an osteoid osteoma of the left third metacarpal bone in a 36-year-old woman. The clinical and radiographic findings along with the surgical management of the lesion are presented. The pain disappeared immediately after the operation. At the 2-year follow-up, the patient was pain-free and there was no evidence of recurrence.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Physicians should be aware of the unusual presence and the atypical clinical presentation of this benign lesion in the metacarpal bones of the hand.
authors.affiliation: Orthopedic Department, Konstantopoulion Hospital, Athens University, Nea Ionia, Greece. bniko@otenet.gr
authors.forename: Efstathios
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Chronopoulos
authors.forename: Fragiskos N
authors.initials: FN
authors.lastname: Xypnitos
authors.forename: Vassilios S
authors.initials: VS
authors.lastname: Nikolaou
authors.forename: Nicolas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Efstathopoulos
authors.forename: Dimitrios
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Korres