Fibrous Dysplasia of the Skull: A Probable Explanation for Leontiasis Ossea

Abstract

Osteitis fibrosa is a term that has been used for many years to designate any of a heterogeneous group of lesions of bone and is objectionable because it thus lacks any specific connotation. Employment of synonyms, such as von Recklinghausen's disease, fibrocystic disease of the bone, and osteodystrophia fibrosa, has not been helpful, for these designations also have no definite and universally accepted meaning. The first great advance toward clarifying this confusing situation was made when it was recognized that hyperparathyroidism was present in certain cases of so-called osteitis fibrosa. The changes in bone resulting from hyperparathyroidism and those attributable to other types of osteitis fibrosa were found to be dissimilar. It is now possible for roentgenologists to recognize hyperparathyroidism in most cases in which the bones are involved and they do not often confuse changes in bone resulting from that cause with those of other types of osteitis fibrosa. The next contribution toward a better un...