A Rare Case of Melorheostosis in the Hand of a Saudi Woman

Abstract

Melorheostosis is a very rare bone dysplasia, especially in the hand. Most cases were diagnosed incidentally, with the lower limbs being the most affected. This is the first Saudi woman with hand melorheostosis.A 33-year-old Saudi female had mild to moderate right-hand pain that started six years ago. Hand examination showed a full range of motion and full hand grip, and there was no tenderness upon palpation. Plain X-ray, unenhanced CT scan, and MRI of the hand showed an appearance resembling dripping candle wax as melorheostosis. The bone scan showed a nonvascular and nonacute lesion. An unenhanced CT scan demonstrated cortical and endosteal hyperostosis involving the proximal, middle, and distal third and fourth phalanges. Multi-sequential MRI of the hand demonstrated cortical hyperostosis involving the ulnar and radial aspect of the right fourth proximal, middle, and distal phalanges.Features in the X-ray, CT scan, bone scan, and MRI confirmed a diagnosis of melorheostosis with associated flexor tenosynovitis.