Primary chronic sclerosing osteomyelitis

The case of a ten-year-old white male with longstanding, painful swelling and severe limitation of left elbow motion is reported. The lack of symptoms and signs characteristic of infection and the pseudosarcomatous radiological findings coupled with the pathological findings of chronic osteomyelitis outline the diagnosis of primary chronic sclerosing osteomyelitis. A detailed description is given of the clinical course to illustrate the diagnostic difficulties encountered in a case of this nature. The outcome was favorable.