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Osteomalacia differential diagnosis

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief:

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Overview

Overview

Osteomalacia must be differentiated from other diseases that cause lowering bone mineral density (BMD), such as osteoporosis, scurvy, osteogenesis imperfecta, multiple myeloma, and homocysteinuria.

Differential Diagnosis

Differential Diagnosis

Differential Diagnosis Similar Features Differentiating Features
Osteomalacia
Osteoporosis
  • On physical examination, demonstrates acute musculoskletal pain, if fracture happened
  • On imaging studies, demonstrates severe decrease in BMD
Idiopathic transient osteoporosis of hip
  • On physical examination, demonstrates acute hip pain
  • On imaging studies, demonstrates sub-chondoral cortical loss and diffuse osteopenia of the femoral neck
  • On history, demonstrates mostly involvement of pregnant women and young men
  • On history, demonstrates to be self-limiting in 6-8 months
Scurvy
Osteogenesis imperfecta
Multiple myeloma
  • On physical examination, demonstrates diffuse bone pain and tenderness
  • On imaging studies, demonstrates osteolytic lesions in the bones
Homocystinuria
References

References

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