Massive osteolysis is a rare disease of unknown etiology primarily affecting bones. It is characterized by lysis of affected bone on radiograph, which can get across joints and intervertebral disks to adjacent bone by progression. Histologically, it is characterized by nonmalignant vascular proliferation with fibrosis background of intertrabecular spaces or in later phases dense fibrotic tissue with minimal vascularity. It is generally classified as a benign vascular tumor or vascular malformation. The disease can cause deformity and disability, with chylothorax and cervical vertebral involvement it can be lethal. More than one hundred cases have been reported in the English literature. Several cases have been reported in China, but most of them lack effective treatment. This review was focused mainly upon the pathology, clinical features, laboratory tests and radiographic appearance, diagnosis criteria and treatment modalities of the disease.
