$Unique_ID{BRK03843} $Pretitle{} $Title{Hyperostosis Frontalis Interna} $Subject{Hyperostosis Frontalis Interna Endostosis Crani Hyperostosis Calvariae Interna Morgagni-Stewart-Morel Syndrome Acromegaly Ieontiasis Ossea Paget's Disease Leontiasis Ossea Virchow's Disease Crouzon Disease Galactorrhea Myotonic Dystrophy Diabetes Insipidus} $Volume{} $Log{} Copyright (C) 1992 National Organization for Rare Disorders, Inc. 869: Hyperostosis Frontalis Interna ** IMPORTANT ** It is possible that the main title of the article (Hyperostosis Frontalis Interna) is not the name you expected. Please check the SYNONYMS listing to find the alternate name and disorder subdivisions covered by this article. Synonyms Endostosis Crani Hyperostosis Calvariae Interna Morgagni-Stewart-Morel Syndrome Information on the following diseases can be found in the Related Disorders section of this report: Acromegaly Ieontiasis Ossea Paget's Disease Leontiasis Ossea (also known as Virchow's Disease) Crouzon Disease Galactorrhea Myotonic Dystrophy Diabetes Insipidus General Discussion ** REMINDER ** The Information contained in the Rare Disease Database is provided for educational purposes only. It should not be used for diagnostic or treatment purposes. If you wish to obtain more information about this disorder, please contact your personal physician and/or the agencies listed in the "Resources" section of this report. Hyperostosis Frontalis Interna is a disorder in which there is excessive growth or thickening of the frontal bone of the skull. It is not known if this disorder is actually rare. Some scientists feel that this may be a common abnormality found in as many as 12% of the female population. This disorder has been found in association with a variety of conditions such as seizures, headaches, obesity, diabetes insipidus, excessive hair growth and sex gland disturbances. Increased serum alkaline phosphatase and elevated serum calcium may occur. Symptoms The major feature of Hyperostosis Frontalis Interna is excessive growth or thickening of the frontal bone of the head. This excess growth can only be seen in an x-ray. As a result, scientists feel that this condition may be much more prevalent than suspected, but often goes undetected. Many people have no apparent symptoms. Other conditions that may be found in patients with this disorder are: obesity, a condition in which secondary male sexual traits are acquired by a female (virilization); a central nervous system disorder characterized by a sudden, aimless, uncontrollable discharge of electrical energy in the brain causing a convulsion or loss of consciousness (epilepsy); decreased vision; headaches; disturbances of the ovaries and testes (sex glands or gonads); excessive body hair; and/or diabetes. (For more information on these disorders, choose "Epilepsy" and/or "Diabetes" as your search terms in the Rare Disease Database). Causes Hyperostosis Frontalis Interna has been found in multiple generations suggesting that the disorder may be inherited as a dominant trait. It is not known if the disorder is autosomal dominant or X-linked. There are no known cases of male-to-male (father to son) transmission. Human traits, including the classic genetic diseases, are the product of the interaction of two genes, one received from the father and one from the mother. In dominant disorders a single copy of the disease gene (received from either the mother or father) will be expressed "dominating" the other normal gene and resulting in the appearance of the disease. The risk of transmitting the disorder from affected parent to offspring is fifty percent for each pregnancy regardless of the sex of the resulting child. Affected Population Hyperostosis Frontalis Interna affects females 9 times more often than males. This disorder presents itself most often among the middle-aged and elderly but has also been found in adolescents. Related Disorders Symptoms of the following disorders can be similar to those of Hyperostosis Frontalis Interna. Comparisons may be useful for a differential diagnosis: Acromegaly is a slowly progressive, chronic metabolic disorder in which an excess of growth hormone causes abnormal enlargement of various tissues of the body and unusual height. Most conspicuously affected are the extremities, jaws, and face. The enlargement of soft tissue, especially of the heart, is a serious feature of this disorder. High blood pressure (hypertension) may be another serious consequence of Acromegaly. (For more information on this disorder choose "Acromegaly" as your search term in the Rare Disease Database). Paget's Disease is a slowly progressive disease of the skeletal system characterized by abnormally rapid bone breakdown and formation, leading to the development of bones that are dense but fragile. This disorder usually affects middle-aged and elderly people and most frequently occurs in the spine, skull, pelvis, thighs and lower legs. When it occurs in the skull it can cause hearing loss. (For more information on this disorder choose "Paget's" as your search term in the Rare Disease Database). Leontiasis Ossea or Virchow's Disease is a disorder in which there is an overgrowth of the bones of the face and sometimes of the cranium. This disorder causes a general enlargement and distortion of all the features. The following disorders have been found in association with Hyperostosis Frontalis Interna. They are not necessary for a differential diagnosis: Crouzon Disease is a genetic disorder characterized by abnormalities in the skull, face, and brain caused by premature hardening of the skull. The skull is made up of several bony plates initially joined by fibrous connective tissue which normally fuse together and harden over a period of several years after growth of the brain. Facial deformities are often present at birth and may progress with time. Vision disturbances and deafness may develop in some cases. (For more information on this disorder choose "Crouzon" as your search term in the Rare Disease Database). Galactorrhea is a condition in which there is a spontaneous flow of milk from the nipple. Myotonic Dystrophy is an inherited disorder involving the muscles, vision, and endocrine glands. It can cause mental deficiency and loss of hair. Onset of this disorder commonly occurs during young adulthood although it can occur at any age and is extremely variable in degree of severity. Symptoms of this disorder may be tripping, falling, difficulty in moving the neck, lack of facial expression and a nasal sounding voice. (For more information on this disorder choose "Myotonic Dystrophy" as your search term in the Rare Disease Database). Diabetes Insipidus is due to an abnormality of anti-diuretic hormone (vasopressin or ADH) originating in the posterior lobe of the pituitary gland. The lack of this hormone on the kidney causes excretion of excessive quantities of very dilute (but otherwise normal) urine. Excessive thirst is the major symptom of this disorder. (For more information on this disorder, choose "Diabetes Insipidus" as your search term in the Rare Disease Database.) Therapies: Standard There is no known treatment for Hyperostosis Frontalis Interna. Seizures and headaches can be treated with standard medications. Genetic counseling may be of benefit for patients and their families. Other treatment is symptomatic and supportive. Therapies: Investigational This disease entry is based upon medical information available through April 1992. Since NORD's resources are limited, it is not possible to keep every entry in the Rare Disease Database completely current and accurate. Please check with the agencies listed in the Resources section for the most current information about this disorder. Resources For more information on Hyperostosis Frontalis Interna, please contact: National Organization for Rare Disorders (NORD) P.O. Box 8923 New Fairfield, CT 06812-1783 (203) 746-6518 National Craniofacial Foundation 3100 Carlisle Street, Suite 215 Dallas, TX 75204 (800) 535-3643 National Association for the Craniofacially Handicapped P.O. Box 11082 Chattanooga, TN 37401 (615) 266-1632 The National Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases Information Clearinghouse Box AMS Bethesda, MD 20892 (301) 468-3235 For Genetic Information and Genetic Counseling Referrals: March of Dimes Birth Defects Foundation 1275 Mamaroneck Avenue White Plains, NY 10605 (914) 428-7100 Alliance of Genetic Support Groups 35 Wisconsin Circle, Suite 440 Chevy Chase, MD 20815 (800) 336-GENE (301) 652-5553 References MENDELIAN INHERITANCE IN MAN, 9th Ed.: Victor A. McKusick, Editor: Johns Hopkins University Press, 1990. Pp. 493. BIRTH DEFECTS ENCYCLOPEDIA, Mary Louise Buyse, M.D., Editor-In-Chief; Blackwell Scientific Publications, 1990. Pp. 909-910.