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- $Unique_ID{BRK02029}
- $Pretitle{}
- $Title{A Diagnosis of Osteopetrosis or "Marble Bone" and What it Means}
- $Subject{marble bone marble bones ivory bone ivory bones osteopetrosis
- osteosclerosis fragilis generalisata Albers-Schonberg disease bone marrow
- bones bone growth bone disease fractures}
- $Volume{}
- $Log{}
-
- Copyright (c) 1993 Tribune Media Services, Inc.
-
-
- A Diagnosis of Osteopetrosis or "Marble Bone" and What it Means
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- QUESTION: As the result of an auto accident, I had several x-rays taken in an
- emergency department. All was well, but the doctor made a strange remark. He
- said my bones were most unusual because I had something called "marble bone"
- disease. When I tried to get more information he said it was nothing to worry
- about, and rushed off to another case. I can't find this term anywhere. Can
- you please look it up and tell me what type of disease this is and what it
- means to me?
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-
- ANSWER: There are several names for your condition including Ivory Bone, the
- more scientific term "osteopetrosis" (or osteosclerosis fragilis generalisata)
- as well as the name of the physician who first described the condition in
- 1904, Albers-Schonberg disease. It is an inherited disease, and there are two
- types. The much more serious of the two is the malignant recessive form,
- which occurs in children and is fatal. The other, a benign dominant form, is
- seen in adults, often causes no symptoms, and is frequently diagnosed on a
- routine x-ray, although bone pain and recurring fractures are also present in
- some cases. The bone is abnormally dense, and in the malignant form of the
- disease it is so thick that it takes up the space where marrow normally
- grows. It is a rare disease and its incidence is estimated to be from 1 in
- 100,000 to 1 in 500,000 people.
-
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-
- The material contained here is "FOR INFORMATION ONLY" and should not replace
- the counsel and advice of your personal physician. Promptly consulting your
- doctor is the best path to a quick and successful resolution of any medical
- problem.
-