Massive osteolysis of the femur (Gorham's disease): a case report and review of the literature. 1989

A A Mendez, and D Keret, and W Robertson, and G D MacEwen
Alfred I. duPont Institute, Wilmington, Delaware.

A case of Gorham's disease involving the proximal femur of a 12-year-old girl is presented. Although Gorham's disease is rare and has benign histologic characteristics, in this patient it took an aggressive clinical course that resulted in severe morbidity. Diagnosis is difficult to establish; almost all investigative approaches provide only indirect evidence of the pathology. A high index of suspicion and open biopsy performed soon after presentation will establish diagnosis. Treatment modalities may be more effective if applied earlier in the disease process, especially as the osteolytic process appears to escalate after pathologic fractures, which occur frequently in this disorder.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D010014 Osteolysis Dissolution of bone that particularly involves the removal or loss of calcium. Osteolyses
D010015 Osteolysis, Essential Syndromes of bone destruction where the cause is not obvious such as neoplasia, infection, or trauma. The destruction follows various patterns: massive (Gorham disease), multicentric (HAJDU-CHENEY SYNDROME), or carpal/tarsal. Disappearing Bone Disease,Gorham Disease,Osteolysis, Idiopathic Multicentric,Osteolysis, Massive,Cystic Angiomatosis Of Bone, Diffuse,Gorham's Disease,Gorham-Stout Disease,Essential Osteolyses,Essential Osteolysis,Gorham Stout Disease,Gorhams Disease,Idiopathic Multicentric Osteolyses,Idiopathic Multicentric Osteolysis,Massive Osteolyses,Massive Osteolysis,Multicentric Osteolyses, Idiopathic,Multicentric Osteolysis, Idiopathic,Osteolyses, Essential
D011183 Postoperative Complications Pathologic processes that affect patients after a surgical procedure. They may or may not be related to the disease for which the surgery was done, and they may or may not be direct results of the surgery. Complication, Postoperative,Complications, Postoperative,Postoperative Complication
D011859 Radiography Examination of any part of the body for diagnostic purposes by means of X-RAYS or GAMMA RAYS, recording the image on a sensitized surface (such as photographic film). Radiology, Diagnostic X-Ray,Roentgenography,X-Ray, Diagnostic,Diagnostic X-Ray,Diagnostic X-Ray Radiology,X-Ray Radiology, Diagnostic,Diagnostic X Ray,Diagnostic X Ray Radiology,Diagnostic X-Rays,Radiology, Diagnostic X Ray,X Ray Radiology, Diagnostic,X Ray, Diagnostic,X-Rays, Diagnostic
D012086 Reoperation A repeat operation for the same condition in the same patient due to disease progression or recurrence, or as followup to failed previous surgery. Revision, Joint,Revision, Surgical,Surgery, Repeat,Surgical Revision,Repeat Surgery,Revision Surgery,Joint Revision,Revision Surgeries,Surgery, Revision
D002648 Child A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL. Children
D004188 Disarticulation AMPUTATION, SURGICAL or separation at a joint. (Dorland, 28th ed) Disarticulations
D005260 Female Females
D005264 Femoral Fractures Fractures of the femur. Femoral Fracture,Fracture, Femoral,Fractures, Femoral
D005266 Femoral Neoplasms New abnormal growth of tissue in the FEMUR. Femoral Neoplasm,Neoplasm, Femoral,Neoplasms, Femoral

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