Amyloidosis presenting as multiple vertebral fractures

Abstract

Amyloidosis is a plasma cell disorder characterized by the overproduction and tissue deposition of a monoclonal IG light chain or fragments. Musculoskeletal and soft tissue manifestations are arthropathy, myopathy, bone lesions, and lymphadenopathy. It can also present with symptoms and signs that mimic a variety of rheumatic conditions, such as scleroderma, rheumatoid arthritis, Sjögren's syndrome polymyalgia rheumatica, a myeloma or a bone tumour. We describe the case of a 64-year-old white woman with an acute history of fall from own height in whose investigation revealed fractures in T8, T9, T11 and L1. In order to determine the nature of lesion, the patient was submitted to percutaneous biopsy guided by fluoroscopy of T11, without any surgical complications. Pathological findings were compatible with deposition of amyloid protein and amyloidosis. Amyloidosis must be considered in differential diagnosis of pathological fractures together with other osteopenic and lytic conditions, such as bone metastasis, metabolic and infectious diseases.

Keywords

• low pain
• spinal diseases
• amyloidosis