Resolution of "salt and pepper" appearance of the skull with vitamin D therapy

Abstract

Chronic hypovitaminosis D leads to state of decreased mineralization and generalized osteomalacia. It also results in secondary hyperparathyroidism causing increased bone turn over and decreased bone mass, manifested radiologically as a "salt and pepper" appearance in skull, subperiosteal resorption, bone cysts and lytic lesions. In this case, a young male patient with hypovitaminosis D and secondary hyperparathyroidism, radiological features show resolution of "salt and pepper" appearance of the skull with vitamin D in 11 months and regression of other lytic lesions.

Keywords

• Osteitis fibrosa cystica
• salt and pepper appearance
• secondary hyperparathyroidism
• vitamin D deficiency