MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia: Fibrous dysplasia

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Fibrous dysplasia

Contents of this page:
Illustrations Alternative names Definition Causes, incidence, and risk factors Symptoms Signs and tests	Treatment Expectations (prognosis) Complications Calling your health care provider Prevention

Illustrations

Anterior skeletal anatomy

Alternative names Return to top

Inflammatory fibrous hyperplasia; Idiopathic fibrous hyperplasia

Definition Return to top

Fibrous dysplasia refers to a group of conditions that destroys and replaces normal bone with cystic bone growth. There are three types:

Mono -- one bone is affected
Polyostic -- several bones are affected
McCune Albright -- in addition to the bone abnormalitis, there are skin pigmentation and endocrine abnormalities.

Causes, incidence, and risk factors Return to top

The condition occurs in childhood, usually between 3 and 15 years of age, with bone lesions and possibly unusual skin pigmentation and endocrine abnormalities. The bone lesions may stop at puberty. The condition is not hereditary and the cause is unknown.

Symptoms Return to top

bone pain
difficulty walking
fractures or bone deformities (rare)

Signs and tests Return to top

A physical examination
X-rays of bones

Treatment Return to top

There is no cure for fibrous dysplasia, only treatment of the symptoms. Bone fractures or deformities will be treated as needed. The patient will be screened for the development of endocrine disorders as needed.

Expectations (prognosis) Return to top

The outlook depends on the severity of the condition and associated problems.

Complications Return to top

Calling your health care provider Return to top

Call your health care provider if symptoms of this condition are present, such as repeated bone fractures and unexplained bone deformity. Specialists in orthopedics as well as endocrinology and genetics may be involved in the diagnosis and care.

Prevention Return to top

There is no known prevention of this group of disorders. The aim of care is to prevent specific complications, such as recurrent fractured bones, which may help limit the ultimate severity of this group of disorders.

Update Date: 11/3/2003

Updated by: Celeste Krauss, M.D., Board Certified Clinical Genetics, Clinical Cytogenetics and Pediatrics. Founding Fellow, American College of Medical Genetics. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network.

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