Osteoma symptoms are rare. If you have a benign head tumor or skull tumor, your symptoms may include:

• Headaches
• Sinus infections
• Hearing or vision problems

Keep in mind that having a headache, sinus infection, or another common health issue does not necessarily mean you have osteoid osteoma – but if you’re concerned about a possible tumor or are experiencing painful symptoms, make an appointment with your doctor right away.

There are three different ways your doctor can make an osteoma diagnosis.

These include:

• Routine examine – Your doctor will ask you questions about your symptoms and perform a physical exam to check for osteomas.
• CT scan – Also known as a CAT scan, this diagnostic test produces high-resolution pictures of the insides of your head and neck. Similar to an X-Ray but more powerful, a CT scan reveals the location of a benign osteoma so your doctor can see its size and placement within the body.
• Bone scan – A bone scan is an imaging test that uses a small, safe amount of radioactive dye as a tracer to locate osteomas in the head, skull or neck.

Once your doctor diagnoses a benign osteoma, they’ll discuss the best osteoma treatment options for your unique situation.