The investigation and management of common polyostotic bone conditions

摘要

Abstract Polyostotic bone diseases can present with skeletal lesions in multiple bones, or at several locations within the same bone. They consist of a small number of conditions, which includes both benign and malignant pathologies. The treatment and prognosis of polyostotic bone diseases varies hugely, which makes a methodical approach to their investigation essential. The most commonly encountered polyostotic bone diseases include multiple enchondromatosis, hereditary multiple exostoses (HME), fibrous dysplasia, Paget's disease (osteitis defor-mans), skeletal metastases and multiple myeloma. The aim of this article is to provide an overview of each of these conditions, discussing their presentation, pathophysiology and the principles behind their management.