CHRONIC SCLEROSING OSTEOMYELITIS OF THE MANDIBLE IN MONOZYGOTIC TWINS

Identical female twins with chronic sclerosing osteomyelitis of the ma ndible are presented. The diagnoses of both at the age of 12 years wer e based on typical history, and on clinical, radiographic, and histolo gic findings. High concentrations of IgA and IgG were detected in the serum of both patients, but deviations were not observed in other immu nologic variables. The normally commensal organism, Propionibacrerium acnes grew from a bone biopsy specimen from the mandible of one twin. No oral focus of the disease was confirmed in either case. We suggest that hereditary factors must have played a role in the pathogenesis of these cases of chronic osteomyelitis.