Computed tomography guided laser ablation of osteoid osteoma: a study of 30 cases

Background: Osteoid osteoma (OO) is a benign but painful bone lesion that primarily occurs in children and young adults 1. Male:Female ratio is 3:1. The aim of the study was to present our experience of CT guided LASER  ablation  of  radiologicaly proven Osteoid osteomas  in the various bones.Methods: Over the period of 5 years 30 cases of osteoid osteomas in various bones diagnosed on various modalities were treated by CT guided LASER ablation. Bone wise distribution of cases was spine (3), upper end of femur (11), lower end of femur (6), upper end of tibia (4), upper end of humerus (3), lower end of radius (2) and calcaneum (1). 22 patients were treated under spinal and regional anesthesia and 8 patients were treated under short general anesthesia. All the patients were treated on day care basis. The LASER fiber was inserted in the nidus under CT guidance through bone biopsy needle and 1800 joules energy delivered in the lesion continuous mode.Results: 29 (96%) patients have complete relief of pain in twenty-four hours after LASER ablation, One week after treatment all 30 patients were pain free. No neurologic complication was observed in any of our patients with spinal osteoid osteomas.Conclusions: CT guided LASER ablation is a safe, simple and effective method of treatment for osteoid osteoma