What does osteoma mean?
An osteoma is a benign, well-defined growth made of mature bone tissue. It usually develops on the surface of a bone and most often affects the skull, face, or long bones. Many osteomas cause no symptoms and are discovered incidentally during medical examinations or imaging; treatment is generally unnecessary unless the growth causes pain, obstruction, compression of nearby structures, or cosmetic concern. The term “ivory osteoma” is sometimes used for an osteoma involving the skull. Although osteoma is a form of tumor, it is not synonymous with cancer and is distinct from both osteoid osteoma and osteosarcoma. In everyday use, the word is uncommon, but it is useful in medical and anatomical contexts because it identifies a particular kind of benign bony overgrowth.
nounA benign, well-circumscribed growth composed of mature bone tissue, usually arising from the surface of a bone. Osteomas are most often found in the skull or facial bones and are generally harmless, although their size or location can sometimes cause symptoms.
- A benign tumor or tumor-like growth made up of mature bone tissue, typically attached to or arising from a bone.
"An osteoma was discovered on the skull during the examination."
"The radiologist identified a small peripheral osteoma near the knee."
"An ivory osteoma of the frontal sinus was monitored rather than surgically removed."
The standard plural in medical usage is osteomata, although osteomas is also used in general writing.
"Several small osteomata were identified along the skull."
Sometimes called an ivory osteoma when it develops in the skull, this rare bone growth is essentially a harmless formation of mature bone.
Reviewed by Deb Chak, Editor. AI-assisted content curated by RJS Tech Solutions LLP.
Where does osteoma come from?
The term comes through medical Latin from Greek osteon, meaning “bone,” combined with the suffix -oma, used in medical terminology for a swelling or tumor. Its modern sense developed with the growth of pathology and the use of compound terms for identifying particular bone lesions. Related English words include osteology, osteoporosis, osseous, and osteophyte, all of which reflect the same Greek element for bone.
Related word forms
How osteoma is actually used
This is a specialist medical term. In current medical usage, it most often refers to a benign bone lesion, and it should not be confused with osteoid osteoma or malignant bone tumors.
Easily confused with osteoma
An osteoma is a benign mass of mature bone, whereas an osteoid osteoma is a small, painful bone-forming lesion containing immature osteoid tissue.
An osteoma is benign, while osteosarcoma is a malignant bone cancer that can spread to other parts of the body.