Study of Periosteal Reaction in Normal Infants

The incidental observation of periosteal new bone formation on long bones is common in pediatric radiology without any symptoms in extremities : for example, the humeri on chest examination and the femora on abdominal roentgenograms. The purposes of the author is to report the results of a roentgenologic study of the long bones in 100 normal infants and 100 chilren between 1 and 2 years old who had no symptoms refereble to the skeleton to determine the incidence, roentgen characteristics, pathogenesis and significance of this type of periosteal new bone. The results obtained were as follows : 1. Periosteal new bone occured in 28% in normal infants group but did not occured in children group between 1 and 2 years. 2. The site in order of decreasing frequency were femur, tibia, and humerus. 3. Periosteal new bone is always on the diaphysis and usually extended onto the metaphysis to a variable extent, but it has not been observed to reach the end of metaphysis. 4. It seems most logical that the periosteal new bone found in these infants is simply a roentgen manifestation of normal periosteal bone growth in the period of greatest activity. 5. It is not an indication for treatment unless a definite relationship with a specific disease is proven.