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Biomedical subjects

Richard W Keen

Publications and source records attributed to Richard W Keen.

3 recordsLinked to original sources

Chondrosarcoma in association with primary hyperparathyroidism.

We describe two female patients, 66 and 36 years of age, with both primary hyperparathyroidism and chondrosarcoma. Case 1 had a chondrosarcoma of the right scapula, and case 2 had chondrosarcoma of the left proximal tibia. Both patients underwent surgical resection of their chondrosarcoma and subsequent parathyroid surgery. Histological analysis of the excised parathyroid in case 1 showed a parathyroid carcinoma and in case 2 showed a parathyroid adenoma. Including these two patients, there is now a total of six cases that have been reported in the literature describing the association between hyperparathyroidism and bone malignancy. We believe that this small number makes it unlikely that there is an association between these two conditions, although we speculate that there may be an underlying genetic basis.

Adult↗

Burden of osteoporosis and fractures.

Osteoporosis currently affects up to one in three women and one in 12 men. In 1990, there were 1.6 million hip fractures per annum worldwide and this number is estimated to reach 6 million by 2050. This increase in the number of fractures is due to an increase in the number of elderly people in the population, improved survival, and an increase in the age-specific fracture rates of unknown etiology. The rising number of osteoporotic fractures and their associated morbidity will place a heavy burden on future health care resources. In the United States, the cost for the management of osteoporosis has been estimated at $17 billion. The majority of this cost is spent on the acute surgical and medical management following hip fracture, and the subsequent rehabilitation. Currently, only minimal costs are utilized for treatment and prevention of osteoporosis. Hopefully, however, an accurate assessment of the burden of osteoporosis on the individual and the health care system will enable the targeting of resources to tackle this growing problem. With an increasing number of effective pharmaceutical interventions, it is critical that these agents are targeted to those at greatest risk for future fracture. This will ultimately reduce the burden of osteoporosis in future years.

Age Distribution↗

The current status of Paget's disease of the bone.

Paget's disease is a metabolic bone disease characterized by abnormalities of bone turnover, structure and architecture. The disease is of unknown aetiology, although both genetic and environmental factors have been implicated. Treatment is indicated for patients with active disease and currently bisphosphonates are the first-choice management option.

Bone Remodeling↗