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.


METHODS
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.
Williams
T P
TP
VA Medical Center, Detroit, Ann Arbor, Michigan, USA.
Brooks
S L
SL
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D016009:Chi-Square Distribution; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D008336:Mandibular Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008439:Maxillary Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010000:Osteitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology; D010026:Osteosclerosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000453:epidemiology; D015995:Prevalence; D011859:Radiography; D015203:Reproducibility of Results