Imaging a dermatosis with dental radiographs: A case report of facial osteoma cutis

Abstract

Osteoma cutis is a condition that generally presents with true bony deposits in the skin. Although the pathogenesis of osteoma cutis is not clear, it supposes that certain preexisting conditions like acne vulgaris may contribute to generating these ossifications. These osteomas are usually asymptomatic and do not require any treatment unless they cause cosmetic issues. Rarely, this dermatologic condition may be observed in dental practices and it may be difficult to understand and diagnose the clinical and radiographic findings of this disease. In the current case, the diagnosis of osteoma cutis and the special sub-type multiple miliary osteoma of the face was made after considering the patient's history and the clinical and radiographic examinations. In order to contribute to the understanding of the diagnosis, the etiology, imaging modalities, and treatment of this rare disease, we present a case report of a 60-year-old woman with incidentally recognized multiple radiopaque microspheres that presented on intraoral radiographs, a panoramic radiograph, and CT scan. General practitioners should have some knowledge regarding the clinical and radiographic findings of this disease. They may be the first person to identify the condition and may play an important role in explaining the findings or cosmetic problems of their patients. This knowledge is also required for the necessary consultations and treatment of the patient.