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Avascular Necrosis of Bone
Etiology

Any cause of interruption of blood supply can result in bone necrosis.
Fractures, thrombosis and embolism, injury of vessels due to vasculitis, and hypertension are all associated with bone infarcts.
Corticosteroid administration is frequently associated with bone necrosis.
Pathogenesis

Any interruption of blood supply results in aseptic necrosis of bone.
The role of steroids in the genesis of avascular necrosis is not understood.,
Epidemiology

Fairly common.
General Gross Description

Necrosis is typically sharply demarcated.
It may involve only the cancellous bone and marrow; because of blood supply from the periosteum, cortical bone is usually not affected.
The infarct is typically triangular or wedge shaped.
•Examples:
Avascular Necrosis Avascular Necrosis
General Microscopic Description

As with necrosis due to any cause, avascular necrosis of bone is recognized by the absence of cells in lacunae.
Necrosis of the marrow space resembles fat necrosis elsewhere and is typified by the presence of bluish, acellular material.
The blue color is due to the formation of calcium soaps, derived from fatty acids released by breakdown of fat in adipocytes.
•Examples:
References

Cotran RS, Kumar V, Robbins SL: Robbins Pathologic Basis of Disease. 5th edition. Philadelphia, W.B. Saunders, 1994, pp.1229.

For Most Current Information Search Medline at National Library of Medicine
This link will directly take you to the relevant new literature
Avascular Necrosis of Bone
Synopsis by: T.V. Rajan M.D. Ph.D. (T11711M54200)[89]
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