Maxillomandibular osteomyelitis in osteopetrosis. Report of a case and review of the literature

Abstract

Osteopetrosis is a rare hereditary group of bony displasias. They range from a devastating metabolic disease (including severe malignant infantile osteopetrosis) to other conditions with a more benign phenotype (autosomal dominant osteopetrosis I and II). Several case reports have been published of infectious complications affecting the mandible but maxillary affectation is quite rare. We present the case of a 23-year-old woman with a malignant recessive form of osteopetrosis complicated by repeated episodes of osteomyelitis (caused by actinomyces) of the mandible and maxilla.