We have an unusual bone affection characterized by a smaller or larger area of dense sclerosis, occurring on the iliac side of the sacro-iliac synchondrosis, not involving the sacro-iliac joint, and definitely not due to osteo-arthritis.
The nature of the etiology is not clear; the pathogenesis is unknown; and the clinical significance is debatable.
It does not fall definitely within the category of any of the known bone diseases or affections, but the type of lesion in the region of the nutrient foramen suggests a low-grade inflammatory nature.
It is important, if only to avoid ascribing clinical significance to a condition that may be more in the nature of an incidental roentgenographic finding.
Osteitis condensans should be carefully looked for in all roentgenograms of the pelvis and, when found, the cases should be completely investigated so that, as new facts and findings are gradually uncovered, much that is now uncertain and vague will become clear, and another entity may be added to the list of bone affections.