osteomalacia

etiology:

• dietary deficiency of vitamin D3, lack of solar irradiation
• deficiency of metabolism of vitamin D
  • chronic renal tubular disease
  • phenobarbitol, diphenylhydantoin
• decreased absorption of vitamin D (malabsorption, gastrectomy)
• diphosphonates (decrease calcium deposition; rx. for Paget's)

findings:

• osteopenia
• bone softening/deformity: hourglass thorax, bowing of long bones
• increased fractures, biconcave vertebral bodies
• mottled skull
• pseudofractures

© 2002, C.E. Kahn, Jr.
2002-04-18