Case Report
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World J Clin Cases. Apr 16, 2014; 2(4): 104-107
Published online Apr 16, 2014. doi: 10.12998/wjcc.v2.i4.104
Osteoid osteoma of the elbow mimicking hemophilic arthropathy
Michel P J van den Bekerom, Martijn A A van Hooft, Denise Eygendaal
Michel P J van den Bekerom, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, OLVG, 1090 HM, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Martijn A A van Hooft, Denise Eygendaal, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Amphia Hospital, 4818 CK, Breda, The Netherlands
Author contributions: Van den Bekerom MPJ, van Hooft MAA and Eygendaal E contributed equally to this work; Eygendaal D designed the research; van Hooft MAA performed the research; and van den Bekerom MPJ wrote the paper.
Correspondence to: Denise Eygendaal, MD, PhD, Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Amphia Hospital, Molengracht 21, 4818 CK, Breda, The Netherlands. deygendaal@amphia.nl
Telephone: +31-76-5953378 Fax: +31-76-955000
Received: October 22, 2013
Revised: December 27, 2013
Accepted: February 18, 2014
Published online: April 16, 2014
Processing time: 170 Days and 2.6 Hours
Abstract

A case of osteoid osteoma of the elbow in a patient with hemophilia A is described. This male patient presented with chronic and nocturnal pain of the left elbow which was alleviated with acetaminophen. Besides pain, he also complained of stiffness. Before these complaints, he had recurrent bleedings in the elbow because of hemophilia. A delayed diagnosis of osteoid osteoma in the proximal part of the left ulna was established by a bone scan and a multislice spiral computed tomography (CT) scan. The lesion was surgically removed under CT-guidance. The histopathological analyses did not show specific features of osteoid osteoma. Two months after the operation, the complaints decreased and the range of motion of the left elbow improved. A diagnosis of osteoid osteoma of the elbow should be considered in young adult patients with persistent elbow pain and histological confirmation is not always necessary.

Keywords: Elbow; Osteoid osteoma; Surgery; Hemophilia; Diagnosis

Core tip: Two issues are emphasized by reporting this case. Firstly, it is important to recognize the possibility of osteoid osteoma in a young adult patient with persistent chronic and nocturnal elbow pain which is alleviated with nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs. Secondly, histopathological confirmation is not always possible and necessary to establish the diagnosis of osteoid osteoma.