Magnetic resonance imaging appearance of scurvy with gelatinous bone marrow transformation.
Scurvy is a lethal but treatable disease that is rare in industrialized countries. Caused by vitamin C deficiency, it is most prevalent in persons of low socioeconomic status and smokers. Low levels of circulating vitamin C result in poor collagen fiber formation that, in turn, leads to demineralized bones, microfractures, and poor healing. Here we report a case of scurvy in a 5-year-old boy with normal radiographs in whom initial concern for leukemia based upon magnetic resonance imaging and clinical presentation led to a bone marrow biopsy revealing gelatinous transformation.
Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, University of Virginia Health System, Charlottesville, VA 22908, USA.
Christopher M
CM
Brennan
Kristen A
KA
Atkins
Colleen H
CH
Druzgal
Cree M
CM
Gaskin
D001855:Bone Marrow Diseases / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology*; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D012614:Scurvy / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology*