Endosteoma is a medical term used to describe a benign bone tumor that grows within the bone marrow cavity. The word is spelled as ɛndɒstiːəʊmə, a combination of four syllables. The first syllable is pronounced as "en" (ɛn) followed by "dost" (dɒst) with an unstressed "e" in between. The third syllable is pronounced as "ee" (iː), and the fourth syllable is pronounced as "oh-mah" (əʊmə). The word consists of a combination of Greek roots, "endo" meaning inside and "osteoma" meaning bone tumor.
Endosteoma is a medical term used to describe a benign and slow-growing tumor that develops within the bone or bone marrow. This type of tumor is typically composed of compact and dense bone tissue and is commonly found in long bones, such as the femur or tibia.
Endosteomas are usually asymptomatic and are often discovered incidentally during medical imaging exams or routine check-ups. They are most commonly seen in individuals over the age of 40 and are considered rare. The exact cause of endosteomas is not well understood, but they are believed to arise from the abnormal growth of bone cells within the endosteum, the inner layer of the bone cortex.
Though generally noncancerous, endosteomas may cause pain or discomfort if they expand and put pressure on the surrounding tissues or nerves. Treatment for endosteomas is typically not required unless they cause symptoms or complications. In these cases, surgical intervention may be necessary to remove the tumor and alleviate symptoms.
It is important to differentiate endosteomas from other bone conditions, such as osteoid osteoma or osteoblastoma, which may present similar symptoms or radiographic features. Imaging techniques like X-rays or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are usually employed to provide a definitive diagnosis of endosteomas. However, a definitive diagnosis is usually made by examining a sample of the tumor under a microscope, a procedure known as a biopsy.
A neoplasm in the medullary cavity of a bone.
A practical medical dictionary. By Stedman, Thomas Lathrop. Published 1920.
The word endosteoma is derived from the Greek roots endo- meaning within or inner and osteoma meaning bone tumor or bony growth.