Phosphoglyceride Crystal Deposition Disease of the Scapula

Abstract

Case:A 76-year-old woman presented with a 2-month history of right shoulder pain with no apparent cause. Radiography revealed an ill-defined osteolytic lesion in the right scapular spine with a pathological fracture. Malignant bone tumor was suspected, and a biopsy was performed. Pathological examination with gold hydroxamic acid staining revealed phosphoglyceride crystal deposition. Lesion curettage was performed, and her symptoms improved. No recurrence was observed at the 3-year postoperative follow-up.Conclusion:Phosphoglyceride crystal deposition in the bone is an extremely rare disease. The gold hydroxamic acid staining method might be useful for the diagnosis of this condition.