Acute calcific periarthritis of the thumb: Correlated sonographic and radiographic findings

Abstract

The diagnosis of acute calcific periarthritis is traditionally confirmed from a radiograph demonstrating periarticular calcifications in the affected area. Care must be taken when using ultrasound as the presentation of periarticular calcification is easily mistaken for a cortical avulsion fracture, requiring a radiograph to distinguish between the 2 differential diagnoses. We present the correlated ultrasound and radiographic findings of the hand of a 37-year-old man who was suffering from a dull ache in his thumb followed by acute severe pain 1 week later, and make the diagnosis of acute calcific periarthritis of the first metacarpophalangeal joint.

Acute calcific periarthritis of acromioclavicular joint: A case report

“…Acute calcific periarthritis can present with varying signs and symptoms including pain, redness, swelling, and limited movements of the joint 5 . The pain can be severe enough to limit activities of daily living similar to our case.…”

“…1 Acute calcific periarthritis can present with varying signs and symptoms including pain, redness, swelling, and limited movements of the joint. 5 The pain can be severe enough to limit activities of daily living similar to our case. The pathophysiology can be described as the deposition of hydroxyapatite along with inflammatory cells, mostly neutrophils.…”

Acute Calcific Periarthritis of Acromioclavicular Joint: A Case Report

“…1 Acute calcific periarthritis can present with varying signs and symptoms including pain, redness, swelling and limited movements of the joint. 5 The pathophysiology can be described as the deposition of hydroxyappatite along with inflammatory cells, mostly neutrophils. 6 Several imaging modalities are helpful in diagnosing the condition.…”

Acute calcific periarthritis—a commonly misdiagnosed pathology

“…The aetiology and pathophysiology of acute calcific periarthritis remain uncertain [ 21 , 22 ]. Local hypoxia in critical areas of the tendon, ligament or capsule, due to poor blood flow induced by mechanical, metabolic or other factors, is postulated as the cause of calcium deposition [ 23 ].…”

“…Metastatic periarticular calcifications may be due to end-stage renal disease, hypoparathyroidism, tumoral calcinosis, vitamin D intoxication and sarcoidosis [ 39 ]. A cortex and internal trabeculation, characteristics of heterotopic ossification, are not present in ACP [ 23 , 39 ]. Metabolic disease such as hypophosphatasia has been reported as an uncommon cause of ACP.…”