NOT again...

[Dr. Obvious 49]

Good luck. Your family will be in my thoughts.

[caybee 21]

I'm sorry you're going through this. I hope she finds the right treatment quickly and has a smooth recovery. You're in my thoughts.

[JanaknJanet 0]

DeadPoolX.. the thing is .. it has grown... and is now.. causing her pain.. and when she runs pain increases.. two years ago it was the size of a marble.. now it is the size of a hockey puck.. 3 inch diameter.. when you press on the top of her thigh. you can feel the boarder of the lump. .. Previously they thought it was simply possible scar tissue at the insertion of quads../ thigh muscle almost like at the insertion of the Vastus intermedius the center muscle of the Quads. top of thigh.

Until we actually get the ct scan. and the appointment with orthopedic specialist.. all we can do is go on as normal.. and pray for simple solution.. .. and.. hmm of course. research.. research and research..

Neils.. it is not on the surface of the skin like a mole. it is a lump on the bone.. . it is called a osteoid ostoma. a tumor of the bone.. i understand non cancerous.. but still .. its my baby.. she is in pain and if surgery . will face more pain.. no matter the result.

she is a avid sports girl.... very active in Volleyball Lacrosse and dance. its difficult to see the look of fear on your childs face.. not only from the unknown. but also to know. that.. she may in fact not be able to continue in the activities she loves..

if it is in fact surgery.. .. it most likely will be done early summer.. for her.. this would be her third summer with recoup from injury/surgery on her leg.. two summers ago was knee surgery for a patella break.. last year was a broken ankle.. .. now.. her thigh..

she is not a sickley girl.. .. just a tall lankey gal.. her body just having trouble catching up to the growth her body is doing..

Osteoid Ostoma

What is an osteoid osteoma?

An osteoid osteoma is a benign, bone-forming tumor that occurs most often in the long bones of the lower extremities. The femur (thighbone) is the most common location of occurrence, although it can emerge in the bones of the hand and it sometimes occurs in the lower part of the spine.

Osteoid osteomas are very small tumors that do not grow larger that half an inch in diameter. They usually emerge sometime during the teenage years or early adulthood. The condition seems to occur more often in males than females.

These tumors, while causing painful symptoms, typically do not progress or harm the host bone, although in young children, those located near a growth plate, may deform the host bone, or stimulate the bone to grow larger or longer. They do not, however, metastasize (spread) beyond the bone. If located near a joint, they may be associated with swelling or fluid in the joint.

What causes an osteoid osteoma?

An osteoid osteoma occurs when certain cells divide uncontrollably, forming a small mass comprised of bone and other tissue. This growing tumor replaces healthy bone tissue with abnormal, hard bone tissue. No one knows exactly why this occurs.

What are the symptoms of osteoid osteoma?

The following are the most common symptoms of an osteoid osteoma. Keep in mind that each individual may experience symptoms differently:

Dull or sharp pain that worsens at night

Pain that is usually relieved by aspirin or other anti-inflammatory drugs

Limping

Painful scoliosis and muscle spasticity (when tumor is located in the spine)

Growth disturbance (when tumor is involved with a bone's growth plate)

Muscle atrophy

Bowing deformity

Nerve symptoms (like sciatica) when located in the spine

The signs and symptoms of osteoid osteoma may resemble other medical conditions or problems. Occasionally children with undiagnosed osteoid osteomas have been thought to have a psychological or psychiatric condition. Always consult a physician for a diagnosis

Treatment for osteoid osteoma traditionally involved an operation to remove the tumor performed by an orthopaedic surgeon. More recently, many osteoid osteomas have been treated by the radiologist using the technique known as percutaneous radiofrequency ablation. This is a minimally invasive procedure in which radio frequencies are passed beneath the skin through a needle to kill the tumor cells by heating them to a high temperature. This technique is performed by the radiologist in a CT scan under general anesthesia. The advantage is that this is a day procedure that does not significantly weaken the bone. It quite successfully cures the tumor and relieves the pain and has much less morbidity than an operation. This method cannot be used to treat tumors of the spinal column, but in other locations has largely replaced operations.

In some cases, if the doctor determines that heat ablation cannot be used to treat your child's osteoid osteoma (i.e. if the tumor is in the spinal column) than your child may need an operation. In most cases, surgery alone, without complimentary therapies, is all that is necessary. The following surgical procedures are among those used to treat osteoid osteoma:

Curettage: Most osteoid osteoma that are surgically treated are treated by curettage to remove only the tumor. Curettage is an operation during which the tumor is scraped out of the bone with a special instrument called a curette that has a scoop, loop or ring at its tip. For this procedure, surgeons make an incision in the bone to create a window. Sometimes special imaging techniques (such as bone scans) are needed to locate the tumor in the operating room. The tumor is completely curetted and the remaining cavity is then packed with donor bone tissue (allograft), bone chips taken from another bone (autograft), or other materials depending on the preference of the surgeon.

En bloc resection: If more aggressive resection of the tumor is warranted (not typically the case in osteoid osteoma), the operation will likely involve en bloc resection, which is the surgical removal of bone containing the tumor, with wide margins of healthy tissue surrounding the tumor. This type of operation is seldom performed today.

Internal fixation: The use of metal rods or pins in reconstruction of the bone after the tumor is excised.

The thing is... we noticed the lump 2-3 yrs ago.. it was small.. now in last month it has started to grow.. which is not a good sign.. since it is now affecting her ability to do her activities.. she has trouble running.. she is a avid Lacrosse player.. so will stay as goalie.. and not her defensive position on field..at least until we know more of what is happening.

Until we talk to the specialist.. we wont know course of action..

she has done.. for last few years.. tylenol and nsaids for her pain... obviously that did not work.. since it is now growing ...

I thank everyone for their support.... .. Nikki also appreciates it all.. she reads and hears me talk of many of you .. since i am here quite often.. and feel us being a big family... thank you ..

I will keep you all posted on what we find out.. ..

[Mina76 0]

Ohhh the poor dear

Nikki will be in my thoughts and prayers that the doctors are able to remove this tumor so that she can recover quickly and be back to her old self again!!!

GOD Bless Nikki and your family JanaknJanet

[Kathryn41 3,205]

You certainly have our thoughts and prayers for a quick and uneventful resolution of this problem. You sound like you are taking some of the best steps possibly by learning more about this condition. While this is bad enough, I know you are grateful that the condition is benign and can be treated. Good luck to all of you. Let us know how things go.

[ManilaIdaho 2]

my prayers for her and your family

[Mags 112]

Thinking of Nikki with my fingers crossed for a positive resolution.

[JSVP08 3]

prayers for you nikki and family ...be strong

[Reba 2]

Wow, that is scary! My thoughts and prayers are with you all.

Hang in there, I'm sure she'll be fine. She's a tough kid (has to be if she's playing all those sports!) and she'll recover quickly!

[Niels Bohr 72]

You have my prayers. All of us here on VJ wish your child well.

[Nessa 23]