Chronic fibrosing osteomyelitis: a position statement

Abstract

Chronic Fibrosing Osteomyletis (CFO) is a commonly found condition which is often undiagnosed because of its co-morbidities with other systemic conditions. Clinicians should consider CFO in their differential diagnosis when confronted with complex head, neck and facial pain patients who present with multi-symptom/systems overlay. A multi-disciplinary approach is often required for proper patient diagnosis and treatment.

Chronic fibrosing osteomyelitis of the jaws: an important cause of recalcitrant facial pain. A clinicopathologic study of 331 cases in 227 patients

“…Chronic fibrosing osteomyelitis of the jaws (CFO) is the most recent name for a painful condition which may affect one or more segments of the jaws. 1 Similar (perhaps in some cases identical) conditions have been previously reported and studied under a variety of names, including Ischemic Osteonecrosis, 2 Bone Marrow Edema Syndrome, 3 Neuralgia Inducing Cavitational Osteonecrosis (NICO), 4,5 Ratner Bone Cavity, 6 and Alveolar Cavitational Osteopathosis 7 . Because of its atypical pain pattern, the frequent lack of or unclear findings on routine plane plain (periapical or panographic) radiographs and the fact that the pain often mimics dental-related pain, this condition often goes unrecognized by health care providers.…”

“…Consequently these patients suffer not only needless or inappropriate therapy, but continued pain and the resultant depression and other psychological difficulties that can accompany chronic undiagnosed and inadequately treated pain 1 . Moreover, in view of the many factors associated with its occurrence specifically in the jaws as described above and below, we believe and suggest that this condition would be more appropriately termed chronic fibrosing osteomyelitis of the jaws (CFOJ) and will so refer to it in this report.…”