Published in:
01-03-2015 | Clinical Practice: Clinical Images
An Unusual Presentation of Amyloidosis
Published in: Journal of General Internal Medicine | Issue 3/2015
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A 47-year-old man presented with sudden onset of nontraumatic back pain. MRI showed multiple compression fractures within the thoracic and lumbar spine (Fig. 1). Dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry scan demonstrated osteoporosis. Biochemical studies were unremarkable (normal serum and urine protein electrophoresis, parathyroid hormone, testosterone, 25-hydroxyvitamin D, and 24-hour urine calcium). The patient failed conservative management and underwent a laminectomy with spinal fusion. An iliac crest biopsy was performed intraoperatively to look for secondary causes of osteoporosis.
Figure 1.
MRI showing multiple compression fractures (arrows) along with narrowing of the spinal canal (arrowheads).
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