Unusual Case of Painless Osteoblastoma of Rib: A Case Report with Review of Literature

Abstract

Osteoblastoma is a rare benign bone tumor commonly located at spine and long bones. However, rib involvement has been reported less frequently. In this report, we describe a young adult female presenting with osteoblastoma of third rib, with the purpose of reviewing clinical, radiological, and histopathological features of osteoblastoma and emphasizing surgical resection as the treatment of choice to lessen chances of recurrence and avoid its confusion with other benign bone tumors by providing adequate tissue for histopathological analysis. Osteoblastoma is an uncommon primary bone tumor accounting for only 1% of all bone tumors. Ribs are involved in less than 5% of patients. The disease has usually a good prognosis with a tendency for local destruction and recurrence. Surgical excision remains the treatment of choice to prevent recurrences and to provide a definite diagnosis differentiating it from osteoblastoma-like osteosarcoma and other benign tumors of the rib.

Keywords

• benign rib tumors
• osteoblastoma of rib
• painless osteoblastoma
• rare rib tumor
• rib tumors