Case report reveals vascular remodeling in an elderly woman with long-term osteoporosis, indicating the need for comprehensive evaluation.
Pregnancy- and juvenile-associated osteoporosis is a rare condition that may lead to pathological fractures and severe vertebral deformities throughout life. We present the case of an 84-year-old female with a history of osteoporosis, diagnosed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) during her first pregnancy. Over a period of more than six decades, she sustained multiple osteoporotic vertebral compression fractures of the T12, L1, and L3 vertebral bodies, leading to progressive kyphoscoliosis and significant loss of height. During routine follow-up for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, a computed tomography scan requested by the Pulmonology Department revealed marked elongation and deviation of the thoracoabdominal aorta secondary to the underlying spinal deformity. Given these findings, the patient was referred to the Angiology Department for further evaluation. This case highlights a rarely described interaction between long-standing musculoskeletal deformities and vascular anatomy, particularly involving displacement and remodeling of major vessels such as the aorta. These findings emphasize the importance of cross-sectional imaging and a multidisciplinary approach in the assessment of complex chronic conditions with multisystem involvement.
No takes yet. Share an insight, caveat, or question.
Zermeño et al. (2026) studied this question.
Synapse has enriched 5 closely related papers on similar clinical questions. Consider them for comparative context: