title: Chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis (CRMO) - advancing the diagnosis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis (CRMO) is a little known inflammatory bone disease occurring primarily in children and adolescents. Delays in referral and diagnosis may lead to prolonged courses of antibiotics with in-patient care, unnecessary radiation exposure from multiple plain radiographs or bone scans and repeated surgery including bone biopsies. Children (aged < 18 years) diagnosed with CRMO between January 2005 and December 2012, reviewed at Bristol Royal Hospital for Children were included and all available data collected. Information regarding CRMO was sent to all orthopaedic surgeons in the region in 2009. The aim of the study was to examine the features of the cohort, to examine the length of time to diagnosis and to explore the criteria used for diagnosis with and without biopsy.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Over an 8 year period, 41 patients were diagnosed with CRMO. Symptom onset occurred at a median of 9 years of age and time to diagnosis had a median of 15 months (range 0-92). Correlation coefficient analysis for time to diagnosis by year showed statistical significance with a decreasing trend. From the cohort data, diagnostic criteria were developed; applied retrospectively, 34 (83 %) children may have been diagnosed using the criteria, without a biopsy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The data suggest that increasing knowledge of this condition may shorten time to diagnosis. Use of the Bristol diagnostic criteria by an experienced clinician may obviate the need for biopsy in some patients.
authors: Department of Paediatric Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, Bristol, UK. rodericks1000@hotmail.com.|Department of Paediatric Rheumatology, Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, Upper Maudlin Street, Bristol, BS2 8BJ, UK. rodericks1000@hotmail.com.
authors: M R
authors: http://orcid.org/0000-0002-8481-6300
authors: MR
authors: Roderick
authors: Department of Paediatric Rheumatology, Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, Upper Maudlin Street, Bristol, BS2 8BJ, UK.
authors: R
authors: R
authors: Shah
authors: Department of Paediatric Rheumatology, Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, Upper Maudlin Street, Bristol, BS2 8BJ, UK.
authors: V
authors: V
authors: Rogers
authors: Department of Paediatric Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, Bristol, UK.|School of Clinical Sciences, University of Bristol, Bristol, UK.
authors: A
authors: A
authors: Finn
authors: Department of Paediatric Rheumatology, Bristol Royal Hospital for Children, Upper Maudlin Street, Bristol, BS2 8BJ, UK.
authors: A V
authors: AV
authors: Ramanan
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001171:Arthritis, Juvenile / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001706:Biopsy; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D057210:Delayed Diagnosis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D004164:Diphosphonates / Q000627:therapeutic use; D005260:Female; D006760:Hospitalization; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D010019:Osteomyelitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000473:pathology; D000077268:Pamidronate; D011859:Radiography; D012017:Referral and Consultation; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D051598:Whole Body Imaging
chemical_list: D000900:Anti-Bacterial Agents; D050071:Bone Density Conservation Agents; D004164:Diphosphonates; D000077268:Pamidronate
keywords: Autoinflammatory; Chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis (CNO); Chronic recurrent non-bacterial osteomyelitis (CRMO); Cohort; Pamidronate