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Gorham's disease: a case report and literature review
Author(s) -
Patel R.M.,
Ward D.,
Moran N.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
oral surgery
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.156
H-Index - 11
eISSN - 1752-248X
pISSN - 1752-2471
DOI - 10.1111/j.1752-248x.2008.00028.x
Subject(s) - medicine , sore throat , trismus , etiology , disease , presentation (obstetrics) , pediatrics , surgery , physical examination , dentistry
Background: Gorham's disease is an extremely rare disorder of unknown aetiology. The disease is characterised by spontaneous and progressive osteolysis of one or more skeletal bones. Occurrence in the maxillofacial region is rare with fewer than 40 reported cases affecting the facial and jawbones. Case report: A 4‐year‐old child was admitted to a district general hospital with a 7‐day history of fever, sore throat, cough and pain in the left face and ear. Three months previously the patient had presented to a local dental hospital complaining of ‘tooth pain’. There was tenderness on examination of the temporomandibular joints and cervical spine, and marked trismus. The teeth were very mobile with extensive gingivitis present. The child was referred to Great Ormond Street Hospital for Sick Children where he received cytotoxic therapy. The patient deteriorated and succumbed to the disease at 6 years of age. Discussion: Prognosis of the disease is dependent on which structures are involved. Mandibular involvement is considered high‐risk. The presentation of generalised tooth pain and mobility in a child should raise the suspicion of a systemic disorder affecting the jaws. Gorham's disease is one such condition to consider.