Head and Neck Imaging

van Buchem's disease

(Francis Steven Peter van Buchem, 20th century, Dutch physician), generalized cortical hyperostosis; an inherited, autosomal recessive skeletal dysplasia, with thickening and sclerosis of the mandible, skull base and calvaria, as well as the long and short bones. An increased serum alkaline phosphatase level is present. Similar to other bone dysplasias with proclivity of involvement of the skull base and calvaria, such as osteopetrosis and progressive diaphyseal dysplasia , bony encroachment on the skull base foramina may lead to various neurological deficits, including sensorineural hearing loss . Conductive hearing loss has been attributed to narrowing of the external auditory canal and middle ear cavity.

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