Chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis: a case report and role of whole-body MRI

Synovitis, Acne, Pustulosis, Hyperostosis, Osteitis (SAPHO): An Interesting Clinical Syndrome

Synovitis, acne, pustulosis, hyperostosis, and osteitis (SAPHO) syndrome is a rare disorder that classically involves the musculoskeletal system, i.e. bone, joint and skin. The exact pathogenesis of this syndrome is unknown. However, autoimmunity, infections, immune malfunction and genetic factors are attributed to its pathophysiology. Bone and joint involvements are the hallmark of SAPHO syndrome and not necessarily require cutaneous involvement at the time of diagnosis. X-ray of the affected joints could show osteitis with sclerosis. Anterior chest wall involvement particularly ''bullhead appearance'' seen on bone scan is a striking feature of the syndrome. Erythrocyte sedimentation rate (ESR) is usually elevated amongst the majority of patients. Diagnosis of SAPHO is always challenging and often delayed because of a multitude of symptoms. The mainstay of treatment is control of pain and inflammation with both non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) and rescue courses of systemic steroids. If failed to control symptoms with first-line agents and in those with severe disease, disease-modifying anti-inflammatory drugs (DMARDs) may be needed eventually. Despite a chronic inflammatory condition, it remains stable in the majority of cases. Here in this case report, we reiterate the importance of early recognition, timely diagnosis and prompt treatment initiation.

Evolution of chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis in a child shown by MRI

Chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis (CRMO) is a rare idiopathic inflammatory disease that mainly affects children and young adults. The clinical signs and symptoms are nonspecific, hindering and delaying the proper diagnosis.

We report a case of CRMO in a child with chronic pain in the cervical and thoracic spine. Investigations of the pain revealed a diagnosis of osteomyelitis in the biopsy, indicating a course of antibiotic treatment. After a year, there was progressive worsening of the pain, and it soon spread to the left wrist and right ankle. Magnetic resonance imaging of the left wrist and right ankle revealed morphostructural changes. A new biopsy was performed on the wrist and ankle, and osteomyelitis was pinpointed again.

In view of the clinical, radiological, and histopathological findings, the patient was diagnosed with CRMO. The following treatment consisted of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, methotrexate, and pamidronate.

The strength of this case is the fact that there was extensive imaging and more than one biopsy, and the patient was followed. Magnetic resonance imaging was valuable in assessing the extent and activity of a lesion.

Clinical heterogeneity of SAPHO syndrome: challenging diagnose and treatment

Synovitis, acne, pustulosis, hyperostosis and osteitis (SAPHO) syndrome is a rare disease which is often misdiagnosed and under-recognized, because of its peculiar and heterogeneous clinical presentation. Its main features consist of cutaneous and osteoarticular manifestations, the latter affecting more often the anterior chest wall and having typical radiologic findings. There are no validated diagnostic criteria for SAPHO and no guidelines for treatment, due mainly to its rarity; as a consequence, therapy is empirical and aimed to control pain and modifying inflammatory process. To date, the use of anti-TNF agents has been proved to be a valid alternative for patients unresponsive to conventional treatments, such as NSAIDs, corticosteroids, DMARDs and biphosphonates. The clinical heterogeneity of the disease, possibly due to differences in pathogenic mechanism of different manifestations, is challenging for both diagnosis and treatment, which should aim to control both skin and bone involvement in different clinical subsets. Here, we summarize the current status of knowledge about the SAPHO syndrome and present two cases of patients with very different disease manifestations, suggesting the need for personalized treatment.

Chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis: the prevalence of lower-limb and foot involvement

BACKGROUND

Chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis (CRMO) is an autoinflammatory condition. The lesions are reported to present most frequently in the long bones. This study aimed to review the presenting features of CRMO in a cohort of children diagnosed as having CRMO and to compare the level of agreement between the clinical and published diagnostic criteria.

METHODS

A case notes review was undertaken of patients with a clinical diagnosis of CRMO. Patients were younger than 16 years at the time of diagnosis. Features were identified in each patient that agreed or disagreed with the published diagnostic criteria. The location of bone lesions in the lower limb at onset and disease progression was recorded.

RESULTS

A total of 37 patients were included. There was a high prevalence in white individuals. Agreement with the diagnostic criteria of Jansson et al and El-Shanti and Ferguson was poor, with levels of agreement of 40.5% and 43%, respectively, and low kappa scores (κ = 0.07 and 0.09, respectively). The lower limb was affected in 49% of patients at onset and in 72% overall.

CONCLUSIONS

This study presents one of the largest published cohorts of pediatric patients with CRMO and also presents racial/ethnic group data that have not previously been reported in other studies. Despite being a condition considered to affect the metaphysis of long bones, the ankle area and foot bones were also frequently affected. The agreement between the clinical diagnosis and the published diagnostic criteria was weak.

Paediatric acquired pathological vertebral collapse

Vertebral collapse is a significant event in the paediatric patient with a real potential for associated deformity and morbidity. While in adults the causes tend towards the malignant, particularly metastatic and metabolic disease, the paediatric population demonstrates a different range of diagnoses. This article reviews the typical imaging findings of the more common underlying acquired pathological causes of vertebral collapse in children, including Langerhans cell histiocytosis, chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis, osteogenesis imperfecta. Other causes include pyogenic osteomyelitis and tuberculosis and neoplastic lesions, either primary, metastatic or of haematological origin.

Clinical care of children with sterile bone inflammation

PURPOSE OF REVIEW

To review the current literature of sterile bone inflammation in childhood and to evaluate the evidence for clinical care including diagnostic methods and treatment.

RECENT FINDINGS

Chronic noninfectious osteomyelitis includes several different entities marked by sterile bone inflammation associated with histologic evidence of a predominant neutrophil infiltration in the absence of autoantibodies and autoreactive T cells, some of which are associated with a genetic mutation. Whole body MRI is helpful in detecting asymptomatic lesions. Initial treatment with NSAIDs is usually sufficient to control symptoms as the bone heals. However, if the lesions persist and do not respond to first-line treatment, or involve the spine or hip, treatment with bisphosphonate will usually lead to a resolution of symptoms. Rarely, treatment with anti-TNF agents is required.

SUMMARY

This review summarizes recent information on diagnosis, treatment and prognosis of disorders involving sterile bone inflammation in childhood. It also addresses the evolving differential diagnosis for autoinflammatory disorders that include sterile bone inflammation and presents a treatment algorithm for management.

Chronic multifocal osteomyelitis: is infectious causation a moot point?

Chronic multifocal osteomyelitis (CMO) is an uncommon disease entity with descriptions possibly emanating from the medical literature over one century ago, and there are numerous disease entities which have been historically detailed and which are probably synonymous. The illness is one of chronicity with exacerbating and remitting focal bony lesions. The differential diagnosis for a bony lesion which ultimately proves to be CMO is initially quite broad. There is no absolute pathognomonic clinical finding, and the diagnosis is highly dependent on clinical course, histopathology, and an absence of microbial infection. Recent studies have focused on immune dysfunction or dysregulation, and there are now many other diseases which are inflammatory in nature and which have been diagnosed among patients with CMO. Despite the aforementioned, the potential for direct infectious causation or indirect causation by infectious stimulation of immunity cannot be entirely excluded. Infection as a mechanism for pathogenesis must continue to be entertained. Multi-centre studies are key to future research.

SAPHO: What radiologists should know

SAPHO (synovitis, acne, pustulosis, hyperostosis, and osteitis) is an umbrella acronym for inflammatory clinical conditions whose common denominator is aseptic osteoarticular involvement with characteristic skin lesions. It involves all ages, can involve any skeletal site, and has variable imaging appearances depending on the stage/age of the lesion and imaging method. It mimics important differentials including infection and neoplasia. Awareness of the imaging features, especially in the spine, facilitates early diagnosis, prevents repeated biopsies, and avoids unnecessary surgery, while initiating appropriate treatment.