Classical and unusual imaging appearances of melorheostosis

This comprehensive review will discuss the classical and unusual radiological features of melorheostosis, which is an uncommon, non-hereditary, benign, sclerosing mesodermal disease with an incidence of 0.9 cases per million. The presentation of melorheostosis in the appendicular skeleton (more commonly involved) and in the axial skeleton (very few documented case reports) will be discussed. The aim of the review is to illustrate the associations and rare, but recognized, complications of the disorder. The role of cross-sectional imaging in the form of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computed tomography (CT) in revealing the spectrum of disease manifestation and differentiation from other disease entities and malignancy will be explored. (C) 2010 The Royal College of Radiologists. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.