Presentation
Right palatal swelling.
Patient Data












Diffuse expansion of the maxillary and mandibular bones showing cortical thinning, dense trabeculae, and serpiginous lucencies/tunnels (feline stripes) within the bone marrow. Also a focal asymmetric right hard palatal bone swelling showing the zonal pattern with alternating hypodense and hyperdense rings
Other features of renal osteodystrophy include:
- diffuse calvarial thickening with widened diploic space, cortical resorption, and salt and pepper appearance
- vertebral osteomalacia with multiple osteolytic lesions
- erosive changes of both temporomandibular joints
The 3D surface rendered images show widening of the nares, flattened nasal bridge, and widened interdental spacing.



Annotated images show the characteristic appearances of the intramedullary serpiginous lucent tunnels (feline stripes) (yellow arrows), and asymmetric focal right hard palatal bone swelling, also showing the zonal pattern (blue arrows).
Case Discussion
The patient was known to have chronic renal failure on haemodialysis. He had a history of progressive facial swelling with current right hard palatal hard swelling.
Uraemic leontiasis ossea is a rare condition that occurs in patients with renal failure on haemodialysis with secondary hyperparathyroidism. It is characterised by swelling of the jaws, widening of the nares, flattened nasal bridge, and increased interdental spacing.
Radiographic features include:
-
radiological criteria of renal osteodystrophy and secondary hyperparathyroidism
skull thickening with salt and pepper appearance
-
diffuse maxillary and mandibular expansion with:
characteristic intramedullary serpiginous tunnels (feline stripes), or
zonal pattern which is characterised by alternating hypoattenuation and hyperattenuation rings caused by osteoclastic activity (lytic lesions) and osteoblastic activity (sclerosis) respectively
focal asymettric maxillary or mandibular bone swellings
Differential diagnoses for this craniofacial appearance include fibrous dysplasia and Paget disease.