Gorham's disease: A literature review and case reports

• Published in: The Journal of foot and ankle surgery Vol. 34; no. 5; pp. 435 - 441
• Main Authors: Green, Howard D., Mollica, Albert J., Karuza, Anthony S.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Baltimore, MD Elsevier Inc 01.09.1995; Data Trace
• Subjects: Adult; Biological and medical sciences; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Female; Foot - diagnostic imaging; Foot - surgery; Humans; Medical sciences; Osteolysis, Essential - diagnostic imaging; Osteolysis, Essential - surgery; Osteoporosis. Osteomalacia. Paget disease; Radiography; Human; Sesamoid; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Bibliographic survey; Lower limb; Bone disease; Foot; Case study; Treatment; Gorham idiopathic osteolysis; Disease of the foot; Female; Metatarsal bone; Diagnosis; Bone
• ISSN: 1067-2516; 1542-2224
• DOI: 10.1016/S1067-2516(09)80018-5

Gorham's disease (disappearing bone disease, massive osteolysis, idiopathic osteolysis, essential osteolysis, progressive atrophy of bone, spontaneous absorption of bone, phantom bone, hemangiomatosis/lymphangiomatosis of bone, progressive osteolysis) is an extremely rare occurrence. There are fewer than 150 reported cases in the literature. This disorder can be characterized by spontaneous or posttraumatic progressive resorption of bone. The etiology is still very speculative, the prognosis unpredictable, and any effective therapy still unknown. This paper presents a review of the literature and two case reports of suspected Gorham's disease of the bones of the foot.