Melorheostosis is a rare bone disease. It causes the abnormal growth of new bone tissue on the surface of existing bones. The new bone has a characteristic appearance on x-rays, often described as "flowing" or like dripping candle wax. The excess bone growth typically occurs on the bones in one arm or leg, although it can also affect the pelvis, breastbone (sternum), ribs, or other bones. (The term "melorheostosis" is derived from the Greek words "melos," which means limb; "rheos," which means flow; and "ostosis," which refers to bone formation.) The abnormal bone growth associated with melorheostosis is noncancerous (benign), and it does not spread from one bone to another.

The signs and symptoms of melorheostosis usually appear in childhood or adolescence. The condition can cause long-lasting (chronic) pain, permanent joint deformities (contractures), and a limited range of motion of the affected body part. In some people, the limb may appear thickened or enlarged, and the skin overlying the affected area can become red, thick, and shiny.

Another rare disease, Buschke-Ollendorff syndrome, can include melorheostosis. Buschke-Ollendorff syndrome is characterized by skin growths called connective tissue nevi and areas of increased bone density called osteopoikilosis. A small percentage of affected individuals also have melorheostosis or other bone abnormalities. Scientists originally speculated that melorheostosis that occurs without the other features of Buschke-Ollendorff syndrome might have the same genetic cause as that syndrome. However, it has since been determined that Buschke-Ollendorff syndrome and melorheostosis that occurs alone are caused by mutations in different genes, and the two conditions are considered separate disorders.

Mutations in the MAP2K1 gene are estimated to cause about half of all cases of melorheostosis. The MAP2K1 gene provides instructions for making a protein called MEK1 protein kinase. This protein is active in many kinds of cells, including bone cells. It is part of a signaling pathway called RAS/MAPK. This signaling pathway helps control the growth and division (proliferation) of cells, the process by which cells mature to carry out specific functions (differentiation), and cell movement (migration). RAS/MAPK signaling is critical for normal development, including the formation of bones.

The MAP2K1 gene mutations that cause melorheostosis are somatic, which means that they occur during a person's lifetime and are present only in certain cells, in this case, bone cells in a particular area of the body. The mutations lead to the production of a version of MEK1 protein kinase that is overactive, which increases RAS/MAPK signaling in bone tissue. The increased signaling disrupts the regulation of bone cell proliferation, allowing new bone to grow abnormally. Studies suggest that increased RAS/MAPK signaling also stimulates excess bone remodeling, a normal process in which old bone is broken down and new bone is created to replace it. These changes in bone growth and turnover underlie the bone abnormalities characteristic of melorheostosis.

In cases of melorheostosis without an identified mutation in the MAP2K1 gene, the cause of the condition is usually unknown. Studies suggest that somatic mutations in other genes, particularly genes related to the RAS/MAPK signaling pathway, may also cause the disorder.

This condition is not inherited from a parent, and it cannot be passed down to children. It arises from somatic mutations in bone cells that occur during an individual's lifetime.

There is no standard treatment for melorheostosis, and options are individualized based on the specific symptoms and severity in each person. Management aims to relieve pain, correct deformity, and restore movement. Physical therapy is an essential part of management both for pain relief and maintaining or improving range of motion. Other management options include bisphosphonates, pain medications, spinal cord stimulation, nerve blocks, and sympathectomy. Surgical options vary from person to person depending on the bone(s) and tissues involved and the severity. In some cases, bone deformities recur after surgical treatment.

Melorheostosis affects about 1 in 1 million people. Approximately 400 cases have been reported worldwide.