Osteoid Osteoma: Drug Therapy

Therapeutic targets

• Relief of pain
• Removal of the tumor – see “Surgical Therapy“.
• Healing

Therapy recommendations

• Osteoid osteoma-related pain responds very well to nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) such as salicylates, e.g., acetylsalicylic acid (“ASA-sensitive”). In half of the cases, a decrease in pain can be observed.Caution: Salicylates are not recommended for permanent medication due to the risk of gastrointestinal bleeding (bleeding in the gastrointestinal tract)!
• About the administration of cyclooxygenase inhibitors (COX-2 inhibitors) can inhibit the synthesis (production) of prostaglandins (= “pain substance”) by osteoblasts in the nidus (hearth of the osteoid osteoma).
• Other options for analgesia according to the WHO staging scheme are:
  • Non-opioid analgesic (paracetamol, first-line agent).
  • Low-potency opioid analgesic (e.g., tramadol) + non-opioid analgesic.
  • High-potency opioid analgesic (eg, morphine) + non-opioid analgesic.