A Rare Case in Rheumatology Clinical Practice: Pachydermodactyly

Pachydermodactyly (PDD) is a benign skin fibromatosis which is characterized by asymptomatic painless periarticular swelling in the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) and sometimes metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints, which usually affects young adult males. The etiology is not fully understood, but mechanical trauma is thought to be responsible. There is an accumulation of increased dermal collagen histopathologically (1). Rheumatological diseases, particularly rheumatoid arthritis affecting the joints of the hands should be considered in the differential diagnosis due to the similarity of the joint involvement (2).