• Imaging Science in Dentistry
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• v.40 no.4
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• pp.197-201
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• 2010

Osteopetrosis is a rare bone disease characterized by systemic osteosclerosis due to an osteoclast dysfunction that decreases bone resorption. This report demonstrates two cases of adult osteopetrosis with secondary osteomyelitis of the maxilla, in siblings who are 43-year old female and 55-year old, male respectively. The common radiographic features of these cases were increased radiopacity in skull, rib and vertebra. The radiographic features that differed between these two cases were the osteosclerotic pattern of the jaw bones, that is, diffuse patterns in the female case, while the male case showed nodular patterns that were confined to the root apices. The diagnosis of osteopetrosis may be complicated due to the varying degree of osteosclerosis on panoramic radiograph. Additional radiographs such as the chest and skull radiograph may be helpful for the diagnosis of osteopetrosis.