A LONGITUDINAL-STUDY OF IDIOPATHIC OSTEOSCLEROSIS AND CONDENSING OSTEITIS

Objective: To document the prevalence of idiopathic osteosclerosis (IO ) and condensing osteitis (CO) in a middle-age-to-older adult populati on and determine their long term behavior. Study design: Full-mouth ra diographs of 1585 adults, with a mean age 44.0 years, were evaluated f or the presence of radiopaque masses diagnosed as IO or CO. All lesion s were followed for 2 to 28 years, mean 10.4, to determine changes in size and shape. Results: There were 187 lesions detected, 100 IO in 90 subjects (5.7%) and 87 CO in 71 subjects (4.5%). At follow-up, 180 le sions (96%) were still present, of which 155 were unchanged in size, 1 8 were smaller, and 7 were larger. Conclusions: Idiopathic osteosclero sis in middle age to older adults is stable and requires no further ac tion after documentation in the patient's clinical records.