Dental Radiographic Findings of Malignant Osteopetrosis: Report of Four Cases

Abstract

Osteopetrosis is a rare skeletal disorder that results from a defect in the differentiation and function of osteoclasts. The lack of normally functioning osteoclasts results in abnormal formation of the primary skeleton and a generalized increase in the bone mass. This disorder is inherited as an autosomal recessive (osteopetrosis congenita) and an autosomal dominant trait (osteopetrosis, tarda). In this article, we report four cases of malignant osteopetrosis and describe the clinical and dental radiographic findings associated with this rare disease.