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27of RHEUMATOLOGY
EAAHNIKH PEYMATQAOriA
27 1
2016
© Thomas K, Androulakis A, Koutsianas C, Anagnostopoulos C, Triantafyllou G, Kallikazaros I, Vassilopoulos D.
This work is licensed /T\ /7\
under a Creative Commons /qqA r^J Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 International L
nEPinTQIH CASE REPORT
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TnA.: 2413502813, Fax: 2413501016,
E-mail: lsakkas@med.uth.gr
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of RHEUMATOLOGY
EAAHNIKH PEYMATQAOriA
27 1
2016
© Thomas K, Androulakis A, Koutsianas C, Anagnostopoulos C, Triantafyllou G, Kallikazaros I, Vassilopoulos D.
This work is licensed /T\ /7\
under a Creative Commons /qqA r^J Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 International L
nEPinTQIH CASE REPORT
Pachydermodactyly-symmetric soft tissue swelling around proximal interphalangeal joints may be misdiagnosed for arthritis
Evangelia Georgiou1, Marianna Vlychou2, Lazaros I. Sakkas1
1Rheumatology Department, 2Radiology Department, Faculty of Medicine, School of Health Sciences, University of Thessaly, Larissa 41110, Greece
ABSTRACT
Pachydermodactyly is a benign
Corresponding author:
Lazaros I. Sakkas, MD, DM, PhD (London),
FRCP (London)
Department of Rheumatology
Faculty of Medicine,
School of Health Sciences,
University of Thessaly and University
General Hospital of Larissa
Biopolis 41110, Larissa
Tel:+302413502813, Fax:+302413501016,
E-mail: lsakkas@med.uth.gr
condition of unknown aetiology that presents with skin thickening around the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joints. Most of the time the swelling is symmetrical and can easily misdiagnosed for arthritis, particularly juvenile idiopathic arthritis or rheumatoid arthritis.
Mediterr J Rheumatol 2016;27(1):32-3 https://doi.org/10.31138/mjn27.132
Keywords: pachydermodactyly, juvenile idiopathic arthritis, rheumatoid arthritis.
Cite this article as: Georgiou E, Vlychou M, Sakkas L I. Pachydermodactyly-symmetric soft tissue swelling around proximal interphalangeal joints may be misdiagnosed for arthritis. Mediterr J Rheumatol 2016;27(1):32-3.
of RHEUMATOLOGY 1
EAAHNIKH PEYMATOAOflA 2°16
CASE REPORT
A 15 year-old pleasant boy with no medical history, presented with swelling of the proximal interphalangeal joints of both hands for the last 2 years. He was a high school student and spent a lot of time playing basketball.He reported no pain, morning stiffness, fever, itching, rash, or any other symptom. Family history revealed a father with Hodgkin's lymphoma. He had symmetric swelling of the second through forth proximal interphalangeal joints bilaterally, without tenderness and had normal joint range of movements. There was no uveitis. Full blood count and basic biochemistry tests were normal. Erythrocyte and C-reactive protein were normal. Rheumatoid factor, anti-CCP antibodies, and antinuclear antibodies were all negative. The patient started on methotrexate without any benefit. Etanercept was also totally ineffective in reducing the swelling. A review of his case revealed skin thickening on the medial, lateral and dorsal aspect of PIP joints (Figure 1A). Skin biopsy showed hyperplasia of the epidermis increased collagen in the dermis, and superficial mild perivascular inflammation.
Ultrasound showed skin thickening with no power Doppler signal and no joint abnormality. MRI of hands showed edema of soft tissue around the PIP joints, but no joint inflammation or periosteal abnormality (Figure 1B,C). Based on these findings, pachydermodactyly was diagnosed and medications were stopped. A year later the boy is well with no progression of PIP swelling.
COMMENTS
Pachydermodactyly is a rare benign condition that affects young individuals and rarely adults. Increased mechanical irritation, such as coming from sports, or musical instruments, is thought to be an attributing factor. It presents with painless soft tissue swelling over the medial, lateral and dorsal aspects of PIP joints of fingers, mostly symmetrical. It can rarely affect a single joint, distal interphalangeal joints, thumbs, and toes.1,2 Histology shows increased collagen deposition in dermis, hyperkeratosis (hyperplasia of stratum corneum) and acanthosis (hyperplasia of stratum spinosum). Mononuclear cell infiltration has rarely been reported. Practitioners should be familiar with pachydermodactyly because they may misdiagnose it for juvenile arthritis and subject individuals to unnecessary and potentially harmful drug treatments. The absence of pain and tenderness, and the normal range of joint movements point to the correct diagnosis. Careful physical examination reveals that the joint swelling is due to periarticular soft tissue thickening and not to joint inflammation. Ultrasound confirms the absence of joint inflammation of PIP joints. MRI shows no evidence of capsule, ligament, tendon, or periosteum involvement.3 Differential diagnosis, apart from arthritis, includes knuckle pads (Garrod's pads) (skin thickening over the dorsal aspect of hand joints), and pachydermoperiostosis. The latter is a painful condition characterized by pachydermopathy, digital clubbing, and periostosis.
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
The authors declare no conflict of interest.
REFERENCES
1. El-hallak M, Lovell D. Pachydermodactyly mimicking juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Arthritis Rheum 2013;65:2736.
2. Dallos T, Oppl B, Kovacs L, Zwerina J. Pachydermodactyly: A review. Curr Rheumatol Rep 2014;16:442.
3. Anandacoomarasamy A, Bak H S, Peduto A, Manolios N. Magnetic resonance imaging in pachydermodactyly. J Rheumatol 2005;32:2239-41.
Figure 1 (A) Patient's hands with fusiform swelling of proximal interphalangeal joints. (B) Coronal proton-density weighted image with fat saturation shows normal proximal interphalangeal joints, with no evidence of inflammation. There is mild edema of the periarticular subcutaneous tissue (arrows) with minor signal increase. (C). Coronal 3D-SPGR with fat saturation after contrast administration shows normal small joints, without evidence of contrast enhancement in synovium or tendons.
