Gorham-Stout Disease: Case Report and Suggested Diagnostic Evaluation of a Rare Clinical Entity

ABSTRACT: Objective: Gorham-Stout disease (GSD), otherwise known as vanishing bone disease, is a rare disorder that is associated with bone destruction resulting in massive osteolysis secondary to proliferation of vascular channels. The exact etiology and mechanism of bone resorption is unknown. The...

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Main Authors: Diana Lam, MD, Evelyn M. Wong, MD, FRCPC, Angela M. Cheung, MD, PhD, FRCPC, CCD, Joshua M. Lakoff, MD, FRCPC
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Elsevier 2018-03-01
Series:AACE Clinical Case Reports
Online Access:http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2376060520304673
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author Diana Lam, MD
Evelyn M. Wong, MD, FRCPC
Angela M. Cheung, MD, PhD, FRCPC, CCD
Joshua M. Lakoff, MD, FRCPC
author_facet Diana Lam, MD
Evelyn M. Wong, MD, FRCPC
Angela M. Cheung, MD, PhD, FRCPC, CCD
Joshua M. Lakoff, MD, FRCPC
author_sort Diana Lam, MD
collection DOAJ
description ABSTRACT: Objective: Gorham-Stout disease (GSD), otherwise known as vanishing bone disease, is a rare disorder that is associated with bone destruction resulting in massive osteolysis secondary to proliferation of vascular channels. The exact etiology and mechanism of bone resorption is unknown. The disease process can be benign and self-limiting or progressive and life-threatening. The optimal initial evaluation, follow-up, and treatment procedures have not yet been defined. Various treatments and modalities have been suggested and include bisphosphonates, alpha-2β interferon, external beam radiation therapy, and surgery.Methods: Systematic literature searches were performed using the PubMed and EMBASE databases.Results: We present the case of a 20-year-old, asymptomatic man with incidentally noted lucency of the T3, T4, and T5 posterior ribs on chest radiograph. Follow-up imaging identified progressive osteolysis consistent with a diagnosis of GSD. Initial workup revealed a significantly low level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (9 ng/mL; adequate is >30 ng/mL) and mild elevation of the bone formation markers pro-collagen 1 intact N-terminal peptide (102 μg/L; reference range is 22 to 87 μg/L) and bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (23 μg/L; reference range is 0 to 20 μg/L). His C-telopeptide level was normal (521 pg/mL; reference range is 90 to 750 pg/mL) but was higher than the median of the reference range. He was started on cholecalciferol at 2,000 IU daily and treated with a 5-mg, intravenous infusion of zoledronic acid.Conclusion: The initial presentation of GSD can provoke significant anxiety in both patients and their clinicians given the potential significant outcomes and paucity of data on the evaluation and management of this disease. Here we propose a method for initial diagnostic workup and follow-up.Abbreviations: CT computed tomography GSD Gorham-Stout disease
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spelling doaj.art-811cfc89e7ae471db941239a8b9bed6b2022-12-21T19:46:06ZengElsevierAACE Clinical Case Reports2376-06052018-03-0142166170Gorham-Stout Disease: Case Report and Suggested Diagnostic Evaluation of a Rare Clinical EntityDiana Lam, MD0Evelyn M. Wong, MD, FRCPC1Angela M. Cheung, MD, PhD, FRCPC, CCD2Joshua M. Lakoff, MD, FRCPC3From the Department of Internal Medicine, Queen's University, Kingston, CanadaDepartment of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada; Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, University of Toronto, Toronto, CanadaDivision of Endocrinology and Metabolism, University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada; Division of General Internal Medicine, University of Toronto, Toronto, CanadaDivision of Endocrinology and Metabolism, Queen's University, Kingston, Canada.; Address correspondence to Dr. Joshua M. Lakoff, Queen's University, Division of Endocrinology and Metabolism, 166 Brock Street, Kingston, Ontario, Canada K7L 5G2.ABSTRACT: Objective: Gorham-Stout disease (GSD), otherwise known as vanishing bone disease, is a rare disorder that is associated with bone destruction resulting in massive osteolysis secondary to proliferation of vascular channels. The exact etiology and mechanism of bone resorption is unknown. The disease process can be benign and self-limiting or progressive and life-threatening. The optimal initial evaluation, follow-up, and treatment procedures have not yet been defined. Various treatments and modalities have been suggested and include bisphosphonates, alpha-2β interferon, external beam radiation therapy, and surgery.Methods: Systematic literature searches were performed using the PubMed and EMBASE databases.Results: We present the case of a 20-year-old, asymptomatic man with incidentally noted lucency of the T3, T4, and T5 posterior ribs on chest radiograph. Follow-up imaging identified progressive osteolysis consistent with a diagnosis of GSD. Initial workup revealed a significantly low level of 25-hydroxyvitamin D (9 ng/mL; adequate is >30 ng/mL) and mild elevation of the bone formation markers pro-collagen 1 intact N-terminal peptide (102 μg/L; reference range is 22 to 87 μg/L) and bone-specific alkaline phosphatase (23 μg/L; reference range is 0 to 20 μg/L). His C-telopeptide level was normal (521 pg/mL; reference range is 90 to 750 pg/mL) but was higher than the median of the reference range. He was started on cholecalciferol at 2,000 IU daily and treated with a 5-mg, intravenous infusion of zoledronic acid.Conclusion: The initial presentation of GSD can provoke significant anxiety in both patients and their clinicians given the potential significant outcomes and paucity of data on the evaluation and management of this disease. Here we propose a method for initial diagnostic workup and follow-up.Abbreviations: CT computed tomography GSD Gorham-Stout diseasehttp://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2376060520304673
spellingShingle Diana Lam, MD
Evelyn M. Wong, MD, FRCPC
Angela M. Cheung, MD, PhD, FRCPC, CCD
Joshua M. Lakoff, MD, FRCPC
Gorham-Stout Disease: Case Report and Suggested Diagnostic Evaluation of a Rare Clinical Entity
AACE Clinical Case Reports
title Gorham-Stout Disease: Case Report and Suggested Diagnostic Evaluation of a Rare Clinical Entity
title_full Gorham-Stout Disease: Case Report and Suggested Diagnostic Evaluation of a Rare Clinical Entity
title_fullStr Gorham-Stout Disease: Case Report and Suggested Diagnostic Evaluation of a Rare Clinical Entity
title_full_unstemmed Gorham-Stout Disease: Case Report and Suggested Diagnostic Evaluation of a Rare Clinical Entity
title_short Gorham-Stout Disease: Case Report and Suggested Diagnostic Evaluation of a Rare Clinical Entity
title_sort gorham stout disease case report and suggested diagnostic evaluation of a rare clinical entity
url http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2376060520304673
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