MR Findings in the Bone Marrow of a Patient with Anorexia Nervosa

Abstract

Gelatinous transformation of bone marrow (GTBM) is a hematological condition found to be associated with states of cachexia and malnourishment, which can be seen in patients with eating disorders, alcoholism, malignancy, and other systemic diseases (such as AIDS, tuberculosis, chronic kidney disease, and chronic heart failure). GTBM is not disease-specific but is a good marker of a severe underlying disease. Initially thought to be a rare finding, newer literature is now demonstrating more cases of GTBM over the past 2 decades, and the alleged rarity may have been attributed to the lack of clinical suspicion and awareness of this condition. We present a case of a young adult female, who has a background of anorexia nervosa and presented with a 4-month history of pain over her left shin. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the tibia demonstrated the gelatinous transformation of the bone marrow. In this case report, we aim to highlight the underlying pathogenesis of GTBM and its prevalence, its unique distribution within the marrow, its characteristic MRI findings, and how these findings may differ in comparison to normal reconversion marrow and neoplastic infiltration.