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Are Lytic Lesions Of The Skull Related To Thalassemia?
Question: AS A TODDLER MY SON WAS DIAGNOSED AS HAVING THALLASEMIA THEN AS A TEEN A CAR WRECK THAT ALMOST TOOK ALL FOUR OF MY SONS LED US TO THE ER. MY SON NOW 25 WAS THEN 16 WAS ACTUALLY KNOCKED OUT SO HAD A ROUTINE/RULE*OUT HEAD TRAUMA DIAGNOSIS (SO TO SPEAK) PRAISE GOD! NO LIFE THREATENING INJURIES TO MY SONS BUT SCAN RESULTS SHOWED "LYTIC LESIONS OF THE CALVARIUM!" ARE THE RELATED ILLNESSES OR TOTALLY SEPARATE DISORDERS!" THANKS AND "HAVE A BLESSED DAY!"
Brief Answer:
Hi Lytic lesions rarely related to thalassemia so need further studies.
Detailed Answer:
Hello sir,
I did review your concern.
Thalassemia is a bone marrow disorder in which RBC precursors are not able synthesis hemoglobin properly due to certain gene defects. What this causes is anemia and it leads to stimulation of bone marrow causing marrow expansion.
Our bone marrow lies in our bones, especially flat bones of face and skull and chest and pelvis. The stimulation causes bone marrow to widen and most commonly gives a lamellated appearance on the xray. However, there are cases where people with thalassemia have had some lytic lesions related to marrow expansion and no other disease. But since this is rare, I would recommend further studies in form of a biopsy or a fine needle aspiration cytology with a thicker gauge needle and a bone scan before that to see the cells and metabolic activity of that area.
Lytic lesions can also be due to parathyroid illness or due to some unwanted growth like langerhan cells disease too. So to rule out other causes I would advice the above tests.
I hope this helps sir.
Let me know if you have any more questions or concerns.
Wish you all the best.
Thank you for choosing healthcaremagic.
Sincerely,
Dr Parth Desai.
Hi Lytic lesions rarely related to thalassemia so need further studies.
Detailed Answer:
Hello sir,
I did review your concern.
Thalassemia is a bone marrow disorder in which RBC precursors are not able synthesis hemoglobin properly due to certain gene defects. What this causes is anemia and it leads to stimulation of bone marrow causing marrow expansion.
Our bone marrow lies in our bones, especially flat bones of face and skull and chest and pelvis. The stimulation causes bone marrow to widen and most commonly gives a lamellated appearance on the xray. However, there are cases where people with thalassemia have had some lytic lesions related to marrow expansion and no other disease. But since this is rare, I would recommend further studies in form of a biopsy or a fine needle aspiration cytology with a thicker gauge needle and a bone scan before that to see the cells and metabolic activity of that area.
Lytic lesions can also be due to parathyroid illness or due to some unwanted growth like langerhan cells disease too. So to rule out other causes I would advice the above tests.
I hope this helps sir.
Let me know if you have any more questions or concerns.
Wish you all the best.
Thank you for choosing healthcaremagic.
Sincerely,
Dr Parth Desai.
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Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Raju A.T
Answered by
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