What Is Skeletal Sclerosis?

Skeletal sclerosis can be present in numerous divergent diseases, and it can trigger various individual and cumulative skeletal deformities. Occurrences and causes of skeletal sclerosis can include ingestion of specific drugs or minerals and various forms of cancers. The degree of deformity apparent on the skeletal form is dependent on the type of skeletal sclerosis experienced. In its various forms it can have little to no effect on the patient, or it can be fatal.

Definition

• Skeletal sclerosis is typically referred to as bone sclerosis. According to Biology Online, bone sclerosis is "an abnormal increase in density and hardening of bone." When patients with osteoarthritis or osteoma are injured, the bone compresses and thickens, resulting in increased bone density.

Osteoarthritis

• As we age, the cartilage in the joints of our neck, hands, hips and feet deteriorates. Osteoarthritis is the most common type of arthritis and is occasionally referred to as degenerative joint disease. Skeletal sclerosis occurs as inflammation increases and extra bone forms around a joint, causing pain, tenderness, and swelling. Over time, patients become stiffer and less flexible.

Small Osteomas

• Osteomas, a non-cancerous bony product, most often form on the smallest, thinnest, and most pliable facial and skull bones. They often go undetected until symptoms occur that require X-rays. Their cause is unclear, but inflammation is suggested when osteomas are in the ear canal of swimmers and divers in cold-water climates. Skeletal sclerosis in the facial and skull bones can also be the result of developmental anomalies or osteoblastomas. A higher occurrence rate exists in women, and it is sometimes linked with Gardner's syndrome when numerous osteomas are present.

Large Osteomas

• Occasionally, large osteomas form on the clavicle, pelvis bones or tubular (long) bones. Skeletal sclerosis in these areas is usually painful and requires further evaluation. Large bone sclerosis can include the compact or outer layer of bone and the interior cavity or inner layer. Causes can range from growth irregularities to fatal diseases and conditions such as bone cancer or Engelmann's disease.

Types

• Compact osteomas involve the outer layer of bone. Bone sclerosis is typically seen on the bone surface and is identified as central osteoma, because it is attached to the principal bone and has a smooth surface. Trabecular osteomas can be microscopically identified as central or peripheral. Trabecular osteomas' identifiable characteristic components are composed of fibrous accumulations of tissue and bone marrow in the interior layer of the bone.