Ultrastructural Analyses of Alveolar Bone in a Patient With Osteomyelitis Secondary to Osteopetrosis: A Review of the Literature

Osteopetrosis is a generic term for generalized sclerotic conditions caused by rare genetic disorders. Decreased osteoclastic activities disturb bone remodeling, resulting in greater mineral density and greater compressive strength; therefore, bone fracture is a major physical symptom of osteopetrosis. Osteomyelitis of the maxilla or mandible is a common and well-documented complication of osteopetrosis. Local infection, such as odontogenic infection, is more likely to lead to osteomyelitis, and treatment strategies can be challenging. However, detailed ultrastructural analyses of bone from patients with osteopetrosis and odontogenic infection are limited. This report describes a case of osteomyelitis of the maxilla and mandible secondary to osteopetrosis in an adult patient and presents ultrastructural data of alveolar bone tissue analyzed by contact microradiography, electron probe microanalysis, and x-ray diffraction. Cases of osteomyelitis of the jaw secondary to osteopetrosis also are reviewed.