Osteoid osteoma: painful enlargement of the second toe.

Osteoid osteomas involving the phalanges of the toes are a rare occurrence. We report a case of an osteoid osteoma of the distal phalanx of the second toe which was treated successfully with surgical excision. Although soft-tissue swelling with a typical clinical history is suggestive of the diagnosis, differentiation from subacute infection is subtle and may ultimately depend on tissue analysis.