Overview of Osteopetroses

(Marble Bones)

By Frank Pessler, MD, PhD, Helmholtz Centre for Infection Research, Braunschweig, Germany

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Bone Disorders in Children
Congenital Hypophosphatasia
Idiopathic Scoliosis
Overview of Osteochondroses
Köhler Bone Disease
Legg-Calvé-Perthes Disease
Osgood-Schlatter Disease
Scheuermann Disease
Overview of Osteopetroses
Craniotubular Dysplasias
Craniotubular Hyperostoses
Osteosclerosis
Slipped Capital Femoral Epiphysis (SCFE)

Osteopetroses are familial disorders characterized by increased bone density and skeletal modeling abnormalities.

Osteopetroses can be categorized based on whether sclerosis or defective skeletal modeling predominates. There are a number of different types, including

They are all familial but have different inheritance patterns. Some types are comparatively benign; others are progressive and fatal.

Bony overgrowth sometimes severely distorts the face. Malocclusion of the teeth may require specialized orthodontic measures. Plain x-rays typically are diagnostic.

Surgical decompression may be required to relieve elevated intracranial pressure or to release a trapped facial or auditory nerve.

Last full review/revision February 2017 by Frank Pessler, MD, PhD