• 1.

    Böhm J: Gelatinous transformation of the bone marrow: the spectrum of underlying diseases. Am J Surg Pathol 24: 56, 2000.

  • 2.

    Nakanishi R, Ishida M, Hodohara K, et al: Prominent gelatinous bone marrow transformation presenting prior to myelodysplastic syndrome: a case report with review of the literature. Int J Clin Exp Pathol 6: 1677, 2013.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 3.

    Boutin RD, White LM, Laor T, et al: MRI findings of serous atrophy of bone marrow and associated complications. Eur Radiol 25: 2771, 2015.

  • 4.

    Munfus DL, Menke DM: Case of severe serous fat atrophy. Mayo Clin Proc 84: 570, 2009.

  • 5.

    Das S, Mishra P, Kar R, et al: Gelatinous marrow transformation: a series of 11 cases from a tertiary care centre in South India. Turk J Haematol 31: 175, 2014.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 6.

    Jain R, Singh ZN, Khurana N, et al: Gelatinous transformation of bone marrow: a study of 43 cases. Indian J Pathol Microbiol 48: 1, 2005.

  • 7.

    Barbin FF, Oliveira CC: Gelatinous transformation of bone marrow. Autops Case Rep 7: 5, 2017.

  • 8.

    Vande Berg BC, Malghem J, Lecouvet FE, et al: Distribution of serouslike bone marrow changes in the lower limbs of patients with anorexia nervosa: predominant involvement of the distal extremities. Am J Roentgenol 166: 621, 1996.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 9.

    Kung JW, Yablon CM, Eisenberg RL: Bone marrow signal alteration in the extremities. Am J Roentgenol 196: 492, 2011.

  • 10.

    Kalamar V, Davies A, Wright P, et al: MRI findings seen in serous atrophy of bone marrow. BMJ Case Rep 14: 1, 2021.

  • 11.

    Vande Berg BC, Malghem J, Lecouvet FE, et al: Magnetic resonance imaging of normal bone marrow. Eur Radiol 8: 1327, 1998.

  • 12.

    Hanrahan CJ, Shah LM: MRI of spinal bone marrow: part 2. T1-weighted imaging-based differential diagnosis. AJR Am J Roentgenol 197: 1309, 2011.

  • 13.

    Tins B, Cassar-Pullicino V: Marrow changes in anorexia nervosa masking the presence of stress fractures on MR imaging. Skeletal Radiol 35: 857, 2006.

  • 14.

    Yamamoto M, Belmont HM, Utsunomiya M, et al: Gelatinous transformation of the bone marrow in systemic lupus erythematosus. Lupus 18: 1108, 2009.

  • 15.

    Singh S, Gupta M, Singh G, et al: Gelatinous transformation of bone marrow: a prospective tertiary center study, indicating varying trends in epidemiology and pathogenesis. Indian J Hematol Blood Transfus 32: 358, 2016.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 16.

    Ganske A, Kolbe AB, Thomas K, et al: Pediatric scurvy MRI appearance. Radiol Case Rep 10: 1148, 2021.

  • 17.

    Amano Y, Kumazaki T: Case report: serous atrophy of bone marrow and subcutaneous tissue enhancement associated with recurrent rectal carcinoma: MR appearances. Comput Med Imaging Graph 20: 183, 1996.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation
  • 18.

    Sung CW, Hsieh KL, Lin YH, et al: Serous degeneration of bone marrow mimics spinal tumor. Eur Spine J 26: 80, 2017.

  • 19.

    Mondal M, Gaba S: "Flip-flop phenomenon” - magnetic resonance imaging pitfall: a case report. J Radiol Case Rep 15: 19, 2021.

  • 20.

    Tonogai I, Nakajima D, Miyagi R, et al: Gelatinous transformation of bone marrow in the calcaneus, diagnosed by open bone biopsy in a patient with anorexia nervosa: a case report. Foot Ankle Orthop 3: 1, 2018.

    • PubMed
    • Search Google Scholar
    • Export Citation

Serous Atrophy of Bone Marrow in the Feet Diagnosed via Magnetic Resonance Imaging: A Case Report

George J. Han Department of Radiology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA.

Search for other papers by George J. Han in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
 BA
,
Ganesh M. Joshi Department of Radiology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA.

Search for other papers by Ganesh M. Joshi in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
 MD
, and
Ryan Tai Department of Radiology, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, Worcester, MA.

Search for other papers by Ryan Tai in
Current site
Google Scholar
PubMed
Close
 MD

Serous atrophy of bone marrow (SABM) is characterized by focal replacement of bone marrow elements with extracellular gelatinous substances. It has been associated with a wide range of chronic conditions, including anorexia nervosa, malignancy, chronic kidney disease, and certain chronic infections. Previous literature has reported the disorder as primarily diagnosed via bone marrow biopsy and occurring outside of the distal extremities. Herein we describe a case of SABM occurring in the feet diagnosed via magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), a phenomenon that is rarely reported. The patient is a 45-year-old woman with a history of end-stage renal disease, congestive heart failure, type 2 diabetes, and peripheral arterial disease who initially presented with nonhealing, bilateral foot ulcers. She subsequently underwent several podiatric medical surgeries due to persistent foot infections and poor wound healing. During her most recent hospitalization, MRIs of her feet were obtained, and findings of abnormal bone marrow signal were attributed to technical malfunction of the MRI coil or scanner. After troubleshooting sources of malfunction, a repeated MRI of the foot was obtained and again demonstrated the same bone marrow signal abnormalities; at this time, SABM was diagnosed. Knowledge of this condition can prevent the misinterpretation of SABM on MRI and prevent the waste of time and medical resources.

Corresponding author: George J. Han, BA, University of Massachusetts Chan Medical School, 55 N Lake Ave, Worcester, MA 01655. (E-mail: georgejhan@gmail.com)
Save