Osteoid osteomas of the cervical spine are uncommon causes of neck pain and painful torticollis in children, adolescents and young adults. In the cervical spine, affection of the upper cervical spine is rarely reported and in particular, atlas vertebra remains the least common location for being involved by osteoid osteomas, where only four cases have been reported previously.

Osteoid osteomas of the cervical spine are uncommon causes of neck pain and painful torticollis in children, adolescents and young adults. In the cervical spine, affection of the upper cervical spine is rarely reported and in particular, atlas vertebra remains the least common location for being involved by osteoid osteomas, where only four cases have been reported previously.

Imaging studies in a 30-year-old male suffering from severe neck pain for a period of one year disclosed an osteoid osteoma of the atlas arch. The tumor was removed with laminectomy of the atlas. Postoperatively, neck pain disappeared within a few days. At 2-year follow-up, the patient has remained symptom free.

Review of the literature disclosed since the report of the first example of the osteoid osteoma of the atlas in 1978 by Jones only 3 more cases have been published so far. Therefore, the current case is the fifth example of atlas affection by this tumor.

Keywords: Atlas, Osteoid Osteoma, Spine tumors, Upper Cervical