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 population and determine their long term behavior.

STUDY DESIGN

Full-mouth radiographs of 1585 adults, with a mean age 44.0 years, were evaluated for the presence of radiopaque masses diagnosed as IO or CO. All lesions 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 lesions (96%) were still present, of which 155 were unchanged in size, 18 were smaller, and 7 were larger.

CONCLUSIONS

Idiopathic osteosclerosis in middle age to older adults is stable and requires no further action after documentation in the patient's clinical records.