Osteoid osteoma of the rib detected on bone scintigraphy: Importance of pattern recognition

Osteoid osteoma is a bone-forming neoplasm that occurs most often in the long bones. The occurrence of an osteoid osteoma in a rib is very rare. The authors describe a patient with an isolated osteoid osteoma of the sixth rib detected on Tc-99m MDP bone scintigraphy. Protrusion of the area of increased tracer uptake in the rib lesion was observed on bone imaging, which suggested a primary bone tumor. The case reported indicates the importance of pattern recognition, which, in certain instances, helps to narrow the differential diagnosis.