Starvation marrow – gelatinous transformation of bone marrow

Gelatinous bone marrow transformation (GMT), also known as starvation marrow, represents a rare pathological entity of unclear etiology, in which bone marrow histopathology demonstrates hypoplasia, fat atrophy, and gelatinous infiltration. The finding of gelatinous marrow transformation lacks diseas...

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Bibliographic Details
Main Authors: Eric Osgood, Salman Muddassir, Minal Jaju, Robert Moser, Farwa Farid, Nishith Mewada
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Taylor & Francis Group 2014-09-01
Series:Journal of Community Hospital Internal Medicine Perspectives
Subjects:
Online Access:http://www.jchimp.net/index.php/jchimp/article/download/24811/pdf_1
Description
Summary:Gelatinous bone marrow transformation (GMT), also known as starvation marrow, represents a rare pathological entity of unclear etiology, in which bone marrow histopathology demonstrates hypoplasia, fat atrophy, and gelatinous infiltration. The finding of gelatinous marrow transformation lacks disease specificity; rather, it is an indicator of severe illness and a marker of poor nutritional status, found in patients with eating disorders, acute febrile illnesses, acquired immunodeficiency syndrome, alcoholism, malignancies, and congestive heart failure. We present a middle-aged woman with a history of alcoholism, depression, and anorexia nervosa who presented with failure to thrive and macrocytic anemia, with bone marrow examination demonstrative of gelatinous transformation, all of which resolved with appropriate treatment. To our knowledge, there are very few cases of GMT which have been successfully treated; thus, our case highlights the importance of proper supportive management.
ISSN:2000-9666