Osteoid osteoma is a benign bone-forming tumor that rarely occurs in the cervical spine. Surgical removal is indicated when symptoms persist despite conservative management. Although open excision or radiofrequency ablation has traditionally been performed, these approaches may be associated with extensive tissue disruption or postoperative spinal instability. Recently, minimally invasive techniques, including unilateral biportal endoscopy (UBE), have been introduced for spinal tumor resection. We report the case of a 50-year-old man with persistent left-sided neck pain lasting 6 months. Imaging studies revealed a 15-mm nidus in the left lamina of C3, consistent with osteoid osteoma. The lesion was completely excised using the UBE technique, with preservation of the facet joint and surrounding structures. Histopathologic examination confirmed the diagnosis of osteoid osteoma. The patient’s symptoms improved immediately after surgery, and no perioperative complications occurred. Follow-up computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated complete lesion removal, with no evidence of recurrence at the 7-month follow-up. UBE-assisted resection represents an effective and minimally invasive surgical option for cervical osteoid osteoma. This approach enables adequate visualization, precise lesion excision, and preservation of spinal stability, resulting in favorable clinical and radiologic outcomes.
Song et al. (2026) studied this question.