Haematological Conditions
A 14-year-old boy with beta-thalassemia major presents with bilateral hip pain. He receives regular blood transfusions every 3-4 weeks and iron chelation therapy. Radiographs reveal widening of the femoral neck, coxa valga, and osteopenia. MRI shows bilateral avascular necrosis of the femoral heads, Ficat stage II. Regarding the skeletal manifestations of thalassemia:
Mark each as TRUE or FALSE
Beta-thalassemia major results from absent or severely reduced beta-globin chain synthesis, causing ...
Long bone changes include widened medullary cavities, cortical thinning, and a "hair-on-end" appeara...
Avascular necrosis in thalassemia is multifactorial, resulting from marrow packing, microvascular oc...
Osteoporosis in thalassemia is primarily caused by marrow expansion alone; iron overload has no effe...
Spinal involvement includes vertebral body changes with biconcave "fish" vertebrae, platyspondyly, a...
Answer the questions to see explanations
Click T (True) or F (False) for each option