Rheumatoid nodulosis: report of a case with evidence of intraosseous rheumatoid granuloma

We describe a patient who had multiple subcutaneous rheumatoid nodules associated with episodes of acute intermittent arthritis and subchondral cystic lesions of the small bones of the hands and feet; this condition is termed "rheumatoid nodulosis." The patient had a cystic lesion in communication with the joint cavity, rheumatoid granulomas, and evidence of a central zone of necrosis opening toward the joint space. His case is compared with 8 previously reported cases, and possible etiologies of the subchondral bone cyst formation in rheumatoid nodulosis are discussed.