Vanishing hips: unveiling Gorham-Stout syndrome

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Radiology
• Endocrinology

Background:

• Gorham-Stout syndrome (GSS) is a rare disorder of unknown cause.
• It involves progressive osteolysis (bone loss) affecting various skeletal sites.
• Bilateral hip involvement is particularly uncommon in GSS presentations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To report a rare case of Gorham-Stout syndrome.
• To describe an unusual GSS presentation with bilateral hip involvement.
• To increase awareness of GSS diagnosis and management.

Main Methods:

• Case report of a 54-year-old woman with morbid obesity and type 2 diabetes.
• Clinical evaluation including progressive bilateral hip pain and gait limitation.
• Radiological assessment using plain radiographs, CT, and MRI to evaluate femoral head resorption and bone loss.

Main Results:

• Radiographs showed bilateral femoral head resorption, not present previously.
• CT revealed severe acetabular dysplasia with deformity and resorption of both femoral heads.
• MRI confirmed bone loss and bone marrow infarction, with no signs of inflammatory arthropathy or calcium metabolism disorders.

Conclusions:

• This case presents a rare manifestation of Gorham-Stout syndrome with bilateral hip involvement.
• Gorham-Stout syndrome is often a diagnosis of exclusion due to its rarity and non-specific symptoms.
• Reporting unusual GSS cases is crucial for enhancing diagnostic recognition and clinical awareness.