Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

X-ray microanalysis of ossified auricles in Addison's disease

  • Clinical Investigations
  • Published:
Calcified Tissue International Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

The element content of ossified auricles in two patients with Addison's disease was determined by X-ray microanalysis. The results showed a similar element content of the ossified auricles of the Addison's patients and control bone specimens. The calcium and phosphorus content of the petrified auricles was, however, slightly decreased compared with the iliac bone biopsies of the patients. The sulfur content of the ossified auricles was higher than that of their bones, but markedly lower than control auricular cartilage. Iron, sodium, and chloride contents were similar in the ossified auricles and in the normal auricular cartilage, whereas only trace amounts of these elements were detected in the bone. The auricles of the patients with Addison's disease possessed relatively high aluminium content compared with both control bone and cartilage. The element content of the bone biopsies from Addison patients was comparable to control bone. The presence of trace amounts of aluminium in the petrified auricles of Addison's patients is probably attributed to a long period of aluminium hydroxide consumption.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Greenfield GB (1969) Radiology of bone diseases. JB Lippincott, Philadelphia, pp 420–422

    Google Scholar 

  2. Batson JM (1961) Calcification of the ear cartilage associated with the hypercalcemia of sarcoidosis. N Engl J Med 265:876–877

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  3. Childrey JH (1938) Ossification of the auricle: seven cases. Laryngoscope 48:339–345

    Google Scholar 

  4. Gordon DL (1964) Calcification of auricular cartilage. Arch Intern Med 113:23–27

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  5. McKusick VA, Goodman RM (1962) Pinnal calcification: observation in systemic disease not associated with disordered calcium metabolism. JAMA 179:230–232

    Google Scholar 

  6. Nathanson L, Losner S (1947) Ossification of auricles of external ears associated with acromegaly. Radiology 48:66–70

    CAS  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  7. Scherrer FW (1932) Calcification and ossification of external ears. Ann Otol Rhinol Laryngol 41:867–885

    Google Scholar 

  8. Barkan A, Glantz I (1982) Calcification of auricular cartilage in patients with hypopituitarism. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 55:354–357

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  9. Bedsole A (1966) Calcified auricular cartilage in Addison's disease. South Med J 59:1268–1271

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  10. DiBartolomeo JR (1985) The petrified auricle: comments on the ossification and exostoses of the external ear. Laryngoscope 95:566–576

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  11. Schwartz TB (1978) Yearbook of endocrinology Year Book Medical Publishers, Chicago, pp 144–145

    Google Scholar 

  12. Siebenmann RE (1977) Ossification of the helix of the ear in Addison's disease. Schweiz Med Wschr 107:468–474

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  13. Jarvis JL, Jenkins D, Sosman MC (1954) Roentgenologic observations in Addison's disease. Radiology 62:16–29

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  14. Walser M, Robinson BHB, Duckett JW (1963) The hypercalcemia of adrenal insufficiency. J Clin Invest 42:456–465

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  15. Rath NC, Reddi AH (1979) Influence of adrenalectomy and dexamethasone on matrix-induced endochondral bone differentiation. Endocrinology 104:1698–1710

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  16. Muls E, Bouillon R, Boelaert J, Lamberights G, Van Imschoot S, Daneels R, De Moor P (1982) Etiology of hypercalcemia in a patient with Addison's disease. Calcif Tissue Int 34:523–526

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  17. Walker DA, Davies M (1981) Addison's disease presenting as a hypercalcemic crisis in a patient with idiopathic hypoparathyroidism. Clin Endocrinol 14:419–423

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  18. Devogelaer JP, Crabbé J, Nagant de Deuxchaisnes C (1987) Bone mineral density in Addison's disease: evidence for an effect of adrenal androgens on bone mass. Br Med J 294:798–800

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  19. Du Caju MVL, Rooman RP (1986) Effect of steroids on cartilage metabolism in vitro Acta Endocrinol 45:35–40

    Google Scholar 

  20. Cohen AM, Talmi YP, Floru S, Bar-Ziv J, Zohar Y, Djaldetti M (1989) Ossification of the auricle in Addison's disease. J Laryngol Otol 103:885–886

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  21. Obrant KJ, Odselius R (1985) Electron microprobe investigation of calcium and phosphorus concentration in human bone trabeculae—both normal and posttraumatic osteopenia. Calcif Tissue Int 37:117–120

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  22. Dickerson WT (1962) Changes in the composition of the human femur during growth. Biochem J 82:56–61

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  23. Chichocki T, Gonsior B, Hoefert M, Jarczyk L, Raith B, Rokita E, Strazalkowski A, Sych M (1988) Measurements of mineralization process in the femur growth plate and rib cartilage of the mouse using pixe in combination with proton microprobe. Histochemistry 89:99–104

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  24. Weatherell JA, Weidmann SM (1963) The distribution of organically bound sulphate in bone and cartilage during calcification. Biochem J 89:265–267

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  25. Peters TJ, Smillie IS (1970) Studies on chemical composition of menisci from the human knee joint. Proc R Soc Med Lond 64:261–262

    Google Scholar 

  26. Davis WL, Jones RG, Knight JP, Hagler HK (1982) Cartilage calcification: an ultrastructural, histochemical, and analytical x-ray microprobe study of the zone of calcification in the normal avian epiphyseal growth plate. J Histochem Cytochem 30:221–234

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  27. Baylink D, Wergedal J, Thompson E (1972) Loss of proteinpolysaccharides at sites where bone mineralization is initiated. J Histochem Cytochem 20:279–292

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  28. Landis WJ (1979) Application of electron probe x-ray microanalysis to calcification studies of bone and cartilage. Scan Electron Microsc 3:555–567

    Google Scholar 

  29. McClure J, Smith PS (1984) The localization of aluminium and other elements in bone tissue of a case of renal osteodystrophy with an associated dialysis encephalopathy syndrome. J Pathol 142:293–299

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  30. Smith PS, McClure J (1982) Localisation of aluminium by histochemical and electron probe x-ray microanalytical techniques in bone tissue of cases of renal osteodystrophy. J Clin Pathol 35:1283–1293

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  31. Recker RR, Blotcky AJ, Leffler JA (1977) Evidence for aluminium absorption from the gastrointestinal tract and bone deposition by aluminum carbonate ingestion with normal renal function. J Lab Clin Med 90:810–815

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  32. Kaehny WD, Hegg AP, Alfrey AC (1977) Gastrointestinal absorption of aluminium from aluminium-containing antacids. N Engl J Med 296:1389–1390

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  33. McClure J, Smith PS, Eastoe JE (1961) Long C (ed) Biochemists handbook. Spon, London, p 715

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Internal Medicine B, Golda Medical Center and Sackler Medical School, Tel-Aviv University, P.O. Box 121, 49-100, Petah-Tikva, Israel

    Amos M. Cohen, S. Floru & M. Djaldetti

  2. Department of Otolaryngology, Golda Medical Center and Sackler Medical School, Tel-Aviv University, P.O. Box 121, 49-100, Petah-Tikva, Israel

    Y. P. Talmi, M. Kalmanovitz & Y. Zohar

  3. Electron Microscopy Unit, Golda Medical Center and Sackler Medical School, Tel-Aviv University, P.O. Box 121, 49-100, Petah-Tikva, Israel

    R. Tsigelman & M. Djaldetti

Authors
  1. Amos M. Cohen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Y. P. Talmi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. S. Floru
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. R. Tsigelman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. M. Kalmanovitz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Y. Zohar
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. M. Djaldetti
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Cohen, A.M., Talmi, Y.P., Floru, S. et al. X-ray microanalysis of ossified auricles in Addison's disease. Calcif Tissue Int 48, 88–92 (1991). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02555872

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Revised:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02555872

Key words

Search

Navigation