A Rare Case of Melorheostosis in the Hand of a Saudi Woman

Abstract

Melorheostosis is a very rare bone dysplasia, especially in the hand. Most cases were diagnosed incidentally, with the lower limbs being the most affected. This is the first Saudi woman with hand melorheostosis. A 33-year-old Saudi female had mild to moderate right-hand pain that started six years ago. Hand examination showed a full range of motion and full hand grip, and there was no tenderness upon palpation. Plain X-ray, unenhanced CT scan, and MRI of the hand showed an appearance resembling dripping candle wax as melorheostosis. The bone scan showed a nonvascular and nonacute lesion. An unenhanced CT scan demonstrated cortical and endosteal hyperostosis involving the proximal, middle, and distal third and fourth phalanges. Multi-sequential MRI of the hand demonstrated cortical hyperostosis involving the ulnar and radial aspect of the right fourth proximal, middle, and distal phalanges. Features in the X-ray, CT scan, bone scan, and MRI confirmed a diagnosis of melorheostosis with associated flexor tenosynovitis.