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01-07-2016 | Case Report

Acute bone infarction: a rare complication in thalassemia

Authors: Thanat Kanthawang, Nuttaya Pattamapaspong, Worawit Louthrenoo

Published in: Skeletal Radiology | Issue 7/2016

Abstract

Acute bone infarction is a well-described complication in sickle cell hemoglobinopathy but it is rarely reported in patients with thalassemia. This report describes an 18-year-old man with homozygous β-thalassemia presenting with a fever and severe acute bilateral ankle pain. The acute onset of severe pain and fever were clinical mimics of infectious arthritis and osteomyelitis. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed acute bone infarction in the meta-diaphysis of bilateral tibias presenting as central unenhanced devitalized bone with T1-high signal intensity fluid in the subperiosteum and soft tissue. Characteristic imaging features are discussed, emphasizing the benefit of fat suppression pre-and post-intravenous gadolinium T1-weighted images. The etiologies of bone infarction in thalassemia are reviewed.

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Title: Acute bone infarction: a rare complication in thalassemia
Authors: Thanat Kanthawang
Nuttaya Pattamapaspong
Worawit Louthrenoo
Publication date: 01-07-2016
Publisher: Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in: Skeletal Radiology / Issue 7/2016
Print ISSN: 0364-2348
Electronic ISSN: 1432-2161
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00256-016-2387-6

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Acute bone infarction: a rare complication in thalassemia

Abstract

At a glance: The STEP trials

Springer Medicine

Abstract

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