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Bone island and leprosy
P Carpintero1, A García-Frasquet, E Tarradas
1Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Córdoba University, Medical School, Reina Sofia University Hospital, Spain.
Skeletal Radiology
|July 25, 1998
Summary
Bone islands, also known as enostosis, were found more frequently in patients with Hansen's disease (leprosy) than in controls. This increased incidence was linked to lepromatous and borderline leprosy types and longer disease duration.
Area of Science:
- Radiology
- Dermatology
- Orthopedics
Background:
- Bone islands (enostosis) are benign bone lesions.
- Hansen's disease (leprosy) is a chronic infectious disease primarily affecting the skin and peripheral nerves.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the prevalence of bone islands in patients diagnosed with Hansen's disease.
- To compare the incidence of bone islands between leprosy patients and a control group.
Main Methods:
- Retrospective review of hand and foot X-rays from 90 leprosy patients and age/sex-matched controls.
- Exclusion of leprosy patients with hand or foot ulcers.
- Statistical analysis to compare bone island incidence between groups and leprosy subtypes.
Main Results:
- Bone islands were identified in 20% of leprosy patients, but none in the control group (P < 0.01).
- Enostosis was observed exclusively in lepromatous and borderline leprosy types, not in tuberculoid leprosy.
- A significant association was found between bone islands and disease duration of 15 years or more.
Conclusions:
- Leprosy patients exhibit a statistically significant higher incidence of bone islands compared to controls.
- The presence of bone islands in leprosy may be associated with specific disease types (lepromatous, borderline) and prolonged duration.
- Potential underlying factors include genetic predisposition or a direct effect of the leprosy infection, particularly the lepromatous form.