Osteoid osteoma masquerading tubercular arthritis or osteomyelitis on MRI: Case series and review of literature

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scans for osteoid osteoma could be misleading and can be misinterpreted as tuberculosis, especially when used as the principal modality of investigation. We retrospectively reviewed cases presenting to our institute for second opinion and selected six cases that were referred to our institute with a provisional diagnosis of tubercular arthritis or osteomyelitis and were identified to have osteoid osteoma. We reviewed the literature on typical and atypical clinical and radiological presentations of osteoid osteoma depending upon their location and present radiological features on MRI that should alert the radiologists toward a correct diagnosis.