L'osteomielite cronica multifocale ricorrente: Se la conosci la riconosci

Chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis (CRMO) is a rare inflammatory disorder that primarily affects children. Pathogenesis is still unknown. It is characterized by insidious onset of pain, local bone expansion and radiological findings suggestive of osteomyelitis at multiple sites. CRMO predominantly affects metaphyses of long bones but clavicle and mandible are suggestive of diagnosis. CRMO is a diagnosis of exclusion. Differential diagnosis includes infectious, malignancies, benign bone tumors, metabolic disorders and other autoinflammatory disorders, so a biopsy of the bone lesion is required. NSAIDs are the first-choice treatment. Alternative therapies have been used, including corticosteroids, methotrexate, bisphosphonates and TNF alpha-inhibitors. The paper reports one case of involvement of mandible, reviews the literature and describes the experience with CRMO over the past ten years.