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Summary
A 69-year-old woman experienced leg pain due to periostitis, later diagnosed as breast cancer. Removing the tumor resolved her pain, highlighting the link between hypertrophic osteoarthropathy and malignancy.
Area of Science:
- Rheumatology
- Oncology
- Pathology
Background:
- Hypertrophic osteoarthropathy (HO) is a rare condition characterized by digital clubbing, arthritis, and periostitis.
- It primarily affects middle-aged and elderly individuals, often associated with intrathoracic malignancy.
Observation:
- A previously healthy 69-year-old woman presented with progressive, unremitting distal leg pain.
- Biopsy confirmed periostitis as the cause of her leg pain.
- Breast carcinoma was diagnosed ten months after symptom onset.
Findings:
- Surgical removal of the breast carcinoma led to complete resolution of leg pain within 24 hours.
- This case suggests a paraneoplastic etiology for the patient's periostitis and leg pain.
Implications:
- Hypertrophic osteoarthropathy should be considered in adult patients with unexplained distal extremity symptoms.
- A thorough search for underlying malignancy is crucial in such cases for timely diagnosis and treatment.