What causes the dripping candle wax sign in bone on X-ray? Let me know in the comments.
Let me know in the comments.
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Answer:
The dripping candle wax sign is caused by melorheostosis, a rare benign bone disorder characterized by irregular cortical hyperostosis and bone hypertrophy. This disease most commonly affects the long bones of the limbs, including the upper and lower extremities, as well as the hands and feet. Clinically, it may be asymptomatic or present with pain, swelling, stiffness, or deformities. Melorheostosis involves abnormal bone formation and sclerosis localized typically to one side of the bone cortex.
Why is it called so?
The name derives from the radiologic appearance on X-ray, where the dense cortical hyperostosis resembles wax dripping down the side of a candle due to its irregular, flowing, undulating contours following one side of the bone cortex.
Pathophysiology
Melorheostosis results from a disturbance in intramembranous ossification leading to segmental hyperostosis along a sclerotome distribution. The excess cortical bone formation produces irregular thickening and sclerosis that appears as linear, undulating, hyperdense regions extending longitudinally along the bone. This abnormal bone growth disrupts normal cortical architecture, causing the characteristic radiographic pattern on the imaging modality (X-ray).
Alternative names:
Leri disease
Other associated named signs:
None specifically named beyond the dripping candle wax sign are typically associated with melorheostosis.
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