Computed tomography of osteoid osteoma.

Computed tomography revealed a radiolucent nidus with a surrounding zone of osteosclerosis in 17 patients with osteoid osteoma. Plain films did not reveal any abnormality in 5 patients. Conventional tomography was negative in 3 patients. Computed tomography is the modality of choice for detection of osteoid osteoma when the lesion is deep-seated or when it occurs in complex anatomic regions with curvilinear and overlapping surfaces, such as acetabulum, knee, and spine.