Painful scoliosis secondary to an osteoid osteoma of the rib.

A 14-year-old girl with painful scoliosis was found to have an osteoid osteoma involving the body of the left seventh rib. Excision of the tumor was facilitated by intraoperative bone scanning that precisely located its position. Following surgery, preoperative pain was completely relieved and the spinal curvature had partially regressed. The importance of early diagnosis and excision of tumors is emphasized to prevent the establishment of a permanent structural scoliosis.