Regional migratory osteoporosis. A case report and review of the literature.

Regional migratory osteoporosis (RMO) is an idiopathic disorder characterized by bouts of severe periarticular lower limb pain associated with rapidly developing localized osteoporosis. Symptoms often reverse spontaneously after six to nine months. Recurrence of symptoms in an adjacent joint is a distinguishing feature. Routine laboratory tests are uninformative. Diagnosis is made after exclusion of more common entities. Knowledge of RMO can prevent unnecessary invasive procedures. Vertebral osteoporosis has recently been associated with RMO. A 50-year-old physician developed the symptoms and signs of RMO superimposed upon well-documented idiopathic vertebral osteoporosis. This association should be recognized when evaluating lower limb pain.