Gorham's vanishing bone disease

"massive osteolysis of Gorham"

painless
occurs in kids + young adults
not life-threatening unless vital structures are encroached upon
some recover spontaneously, +/- residual deformity
complete destruction of part or all of bone by angiomatous tissue
- usually unifocal
- affects proximal skeleton
- may spread into soft tissues + adjacent bones
Cf: other syndromes of spontaneous osteolysis

Charles E. Kahn, Jr., MD - 2 February 1995
Last updated: 1 October 2013