Pustulotic arthro-osteitis with distal phalanx osteitis

A 68-year-old Japanese woman was diagnosed with palmoplantar pustulosis. She presented with anterior chest pain and swelling, as well as pain in the right first finger. Initially, antibiotics was ineffective, the patient was diagnosed with non-bacterial osteomyelitis. Computed tomography of the chest revealed a sternal bone thickening pattern, and technetium-99m bone scintigraphy showed accumulations in the left sternoclavicular joint and sternal angle. Additionally, contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging revealed osteitis in the sternal scapes and body. Based on these findings, the patient was diagnosed with pustulotic arthro-osteitis. The swelling of the right first finger repeatedly worsened and resolved spontaneously, the first right distal phalanx was amputated to rule out infection and malignancy. Histopathological evaluation revealed evidence of chronic non-bacterial osteitis, and associated with pustulotic arthro-osteitis. We report this case as histopathological examination is rarely performed to confirm the diagnosis of finger osteitis associated with pustulotic arthro-osteitis.