Osteoma of the pharynx that developed from the hyoid bone

A Rare Case of Hyoid Osteoma

Solid primary tumors of the hyoid bone are extremely rare. Osteomas are benign, slow-growing, usually asymptomatic, and well-circumscribed tumors broadly attached to the bone surface composed of mature lamellar/cortical-type bone with unknown etiology. Osteomas commonly occur in bones formed by membranous ossification, almost exclusively occurring in the head and commonly involving the paranasal sinus, skull vault, mandible, and nasal bone. We discuss a rare case of osteoma involving the hyoid bone.

Osteoma of the hyoid: an unusual cause of a neck lump

A 65-year-old man with a 2-month history of left-sided neck swelling presented through the cancer pathway. There was no associated 'red flag' symptoms, and clinical examination revealed a left anterior triangle, non-pulsatile firm swelling atypical of a lymph node. Ultrasound scan imaging confirmed a complex structure with an echogenic centre and hypoechoic periphery, which was confirmed on CT as an osteoma of the hyoid.This is an extremely unusual cause of a neck lump, and an extensive literature review revealed only two previously documented cases.