Diagnostic Dilemma of Vanishing Bone Disease - A Case Report and Review of Literature.

ABSTRACT

Rationale Vanishing bone disease (VBD) is a rare bone disorder in which progressive osteolysis may lead to complete disappearance of involved bones. The diagnosis of this disease requires a high degree of clinical suspicion. We present a case of progressive osteolysis of mandible in a patient. Patient Concerns The patient had been without definitive diagnosis and treatment for over a year. Diagnosis Diagnosis was made by exclusion of genetic, traumatic, inflammatory, infective, endocrine and neoplastic aetiologies and by carefully correlating clinical, imaging and histopathological findings of the patient. Treatment Segmental resection of the advancing edge of the lesion was carried out. Outcome: The patient is disease free, with no evidence of further osteolysis, after six months of follow-up. Take-Away Lessons This article describes the exclusion-based approach adopted to diagnose a case of VBD, aiming to standardise a workup for the diagnosis.