Gorham-Stout syndrome: a rare clinical entity and review of literature

Gorham-Stout syndrome is a very rare bone condition of unknown etiology. It is characterized by the spontaneous onset of bone resorption. Bones that previously appeared normal begin to resorb, partially or completely. Sometimes only a thin shell of cortical bone remains, and there is usually a little replacement by fibrous tissue. This process can continue for years but may stop spontaneously. Bone loss can occur in one bone or spread to soft tissue and adjacent bones. Although the disease may strike any of the bones of the body, it is more often recognized earlier when the calvarium and/or the mandible are involved. Because of its rarity, the disorder often goes unrecognized, and lack of agreement on how best to treat Gorham-Stout syndrome can delay the provision of treatment. We report the case of a 58-year-old man whose left body and ramus of mandible had disappeared as a result of massive osteolysis. (Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 2010; 109: e41-e48)