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A rare case of polyarticular synovial osteochondromatosis
Author(s) -
Seckley J.,
Anderson S. G.,
Snow T. M.,
Benjamin M.
Publication year - 2002
Publication title -
journal of anatomy
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.932
H-Index - 118
eISSN - 1469-7580
pISSN - 0021-8782
DOI - 10.1046/j.1469-7580.2002.00047_5.x
Subject(s) - medicine , anatomy , cartilage , hyaline cartilage , elbow , osteoarthritis , synovial membrane , periosteum , joint capsule , pathology , hyaline , articular cartilage , arthritis , alternative medicine , immunology
Synovial osteochondromatosis is a rare condition characterised by the production of multiple nodules of hyaline cartilage within the subsynovial connective tissue of joints, tendons and bursae. The nodules of proliferative cartilage may remain attached to the synovial membrane or detach to form loose bodies in the synovial cavity. Most reported cases have been of the monoarticular form of the disease, with the majority in the knee and hip. Polyarticular forms comprise only 5% of cases. Here we report a case of polyarticular synovial osteochondromatosis in a dissecting room cadaver (female; 76 y). Multiple, calcified, intra‐ and extra‐articular nodules ( n = 14) were located bilaterally in the elbow, proximal radioulnar and shoulder joints. They had a lustrous, cobblestone‐like appearance and the largest (27 mm) was located in the anteromedial aspect of the right elbow joint. The smallest (5 mm) was deep to the annular ligament of the left proximal radioulnar joint. Signs of cartilage degeneration (fissuring and chondrocyte clustering), similar to those well documented in osteoarthritis, were observed histologically. Articular cartilage covered only a small area of the nodules while periosteum dominated the remaining surface. Thin sparsely distributed spicules of spongy bone were seen inside the nodules, separated by regions of fatty marrow. The affected joints also showed signs of osteoarthritis. This is consistent with the common view that osteoarthritis is a secondary complication of synovial osteochondromatosis. However osteoarthritic change was also evident in other joints.