A Case of Osteoid Osteoma of a Rib Masquerading as Painful Scoliosis

Abstract Osteoid osteoma (OO) is a benign bone tumor that typically affects the long bones of the lower extremities. Rare cases of rib involvement present with atypical symptoms, such as painful scoliosis, which can complicate diagnosis. Here, we describe a case of a 10-year-old girl who presented with scoliosis and back pain initially misattributed to idiopathic scoliosis. Comprehensive radiologic assessment ultimately revealed an OO in the rib, which was successfully treated with computed tomography-guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA). This case highlights the necessity of thorough diagnostic evaluation for atypical presentations of scoliosis and supports the use of RFA as an effective treatment for rib OO.