Chronic osteomyelitis with proliferative periostitis in the lower jaw

Abstract

Chronic osteomyelitis with proliferative periostitis (Garré’s sclerosing osteomyelitis) is a distinctive type of chronic osteomyelitis that mainly affects children and young adults. Here we report on a 9-year-old girl in whom the condition arose following a pulpoperiapical infection in a mandibular right primary secondary molar. Clinically, it manifested as a bony, hard, mildly tender swelling. Radiography revealed a pathognomonic patchy thickening with radiolucency and radiopacity. The dental inflammation and infection were eliminated and conservative therapy followed. The patient was otherwise asymptomatic. Remission of the disease process and reappearance of a normal-looking mandible was observed with computed tomography imaging, three-dimensional reconstruction and a bone scan at a 10-month follow up visit.

Keywords

• chronic osteomyelitis
• computed tomography
• Garré’s osteomyelitis
• proliferative periostitis