Osteoma tumor symptoms & treatment

Osteomas are a type of non-cancerous (benign) tumor. They grow on a piece of bone – usually in your skull. You might notice a hard lump on your head before you experience any symptoms.

If you have an osteoma tumor, you may not need treatment. If you are experiencing headaches, sinus infections or hearing and vision problems, surgery or other minimally invasive techniques may be recommended to provide relief.

What is an osteoma?

Osteomas are made of bone. They can be spongy, dense or a mix of the two. Since they’re benign, they won’t spread to other areas of your body.

Osteoma tumors can form on existing bone anywhere in your skull and range in size. They’re commonly found on the jawbone and sinuses, but sometimes form in the neck area. Osteoma tumors can affect anyone.

Osteoma symptoms

Osteoma tumor symptoms are rare. It’s common to not realize you have a tumor until they cause symptoms, or you develop a lump. If you do have symptoms, they may indicate the location and size of your tumor.

Having a headache, sinus infection or another common health issue does not necessarily mean you have an osteoma. If you’re concerned about a possible tumor, make an appointment with your provider.

Osteoma causes

The causes of osteoma tumors are unknown, but it could be due to genetics or trauma and inflammation in the affected area.

Diagnosing osteomas

Your provider can diagnosis an osteoma using several different methods.

These include:

• Routine exam: Your doctor will ask you questions about your symptoms and perform a physical exam to check for osteomas.
• CT scan: Also known as a CAT scan, this diagnostic test produces high-resolution pictures of the insides of your head and neck. Similar to an X-Ray but more powerful, a CT scan reveals the location of the tumor so your doctor can see the osteoma size and placement within the body.
• Bone scan: A bone scan is an imaging test that uses a small, safe amount of radioactive dye as a tracer to locate osteomas in the head, skull or neck.

If a benign osteoma is found, your provider will discuss the best osteoma treatment options that will work for you.

Osteoma vs. osteoid osteoma tumors

Osteoid osteoma is also a benign bone tumor, but it’s found in the long bones of your body. Your long bones include your shin and thigh bones, and sometimes the spine, hands or arms.

Osteoma treatment options

Osteoma removal is not always recommended. Many osteomas that aren’t causing significant symptoms are left alone or monitored over time. But if you’re in pain or if you have a noticeable bump, your osteoma treatment options may include:

• Surgery to remove the benign head tumor. In some cases, your doctor may be able to remove the tumor by going through the nostrils using the Expanded Endonasal Approach (EEA), a minimally invasive surgical technique that gives you a shorter hospital stay, faster recovery and no scarring.
• Over-the-counter pain relievers.
• A procedure that uses radiofrequency waves to pulverize the tumor and prevent it from growing back (percutaneous radiofrequency ablation).

Our team of otolaryngologists will create a customized treatment plan that is minimally disruptive and offers the fastest recovery time possible.