Osteopoikilosis

Abstract

Osteopoikilosis or ‘spotted bones’ is a benign condition in which multiple sclerotic foci are associated with patches of lentil-like papules in the skin. Stieda (1905) is credited with the first description of osteopoikilosis, and Ledoux-Lebard et al. (1916) subsequently coined the term osteopoecilie from the Greek word poikilos, meaning spotted or mottled. Voorhoeve (1924) recognised the familial nature of the condition, and Windholz (1932) noted the associated skin lesions, which he termed ‘dermatofibrosis lenticularis disseminata.’ Harmston (1956) also drew attention to these inconsistent dermal changes, employing the alternative designation ‘osteopathia condensans disseminata’ for the bone changes. In other reports, the terms ‘osteitis condensans’ and ‘osteosclerosis generalisata disseminata’ have been employed.