Denouement and Discussion
Hemangiomas With Osteolysis (Gorham's Disease, Vanishing Bone Disease)
Manifestations
Gorham's disease is primarily a disease of the young characterized by hemangiomatosis of the skeletal system with or without overlying skin or soft tissue hemangiomas. Fractures, bone pain, respiratory involvement, pleural effusions, ascites, scoliosis, and anemia may also be present.The hemangiomas of the bones cause massive osteolysis with complete or partial replacement of the bone with extensive fibrosis. Gorham suggested that the increased bone resorption might be due to localized active hyperemia associated with the hemangioma.Bone involvement is usually unilateral and contiguous. The skin and soft tissue involvement is usually confined to the areas near the bony lesions. Roentgenographically, this condition is characterized by complete lysis of the involved bones with little or no sclerosis. The bones actually disappear and are replaced by extensive fibrosis with focal muscular atrophy.
Genetics
No genetic mode of transmission has