Die chronische rekurrierende multifokale Osteomyelitis (CRMO)

Chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis (CRMO) is a skeletal disease which occurs in phases. Pathological inflammatory reactions underlie CRMO and can be explained by a genetic predisposition or mutation. Manifestations of CRMO occur mostly in childhood as painful swellings of some parts of the skeletal system normally without signs of systemic inflammation. The mandible can be involved in individual cases (5?%). Radiologically, osteolytic areas can be diagnostically impressive and osteosclerosis increasingly occurs during the course of the disease. Specific laboratory parameters for diagnostics are missing. An additional whole body evaluation should be performed by bone scintigraphy. Although CRMO sometimes shows spontaneous remission drug therapy is recommended because of the prolonged course of the disease. The strategy includes non-steroidal or steroidal anti-inflammatory drug treatment and a benign clinical outcome can be achieved. In cases of therapy failure bisphosphonates or immunomodulating agents can be used.