Osteomesophycnosis. A new case

A 10-year old, mentally and physically normally developed girl complained of back pain following an accident. Radiological findings revealed an inhomogeneous, coarse osteosclerosis along the endplates and posterior parts of the ovoid shaped vertebral bodies, in the proximal and distal femora, proximal humeri and tibia epiphyses, and along the lateral aspects of the femoral necks. The pelvis presented a mottled appearance of the trabecular pattern at the symphysis pubis and the lateral parts of ischii and sclerosis in the acetabular region. The only laboratory abnormality was a high serum parathormone level. The family history revealed an autosomal dominant inheritance. The name proposed by Maroteaux for this skeletal disorder is osteomesopycnosis, as the lesions were localized to the spine, pelvis and sometimes proximal femur. The skull, ribs, long bones, hands and feet were not involved in the reported 12 cases. Radiographs of this patient showed in addition changes in the hand. This disease must be distinguished from atypical axial osteomalacia. (orig.)