Intraoperative, probe-guided curettage of osteoid osteoma

Abstract
The only curative approach for osteoid osteoma is operative removal of the nidus, but intraoperative detection of the nidus is difficult even when an X-ray amplifier is used. A simple probe-guided operative procedure using technetium-99m methylene diphosphonate is described, and the results and follow-up in 12 patients are reported. In addition physical properties of the probe have been evaluated by phantom measurements.