[Chondrocalcinosis (pseudogout) of the meniscus]

Among 1060 histologically examined meniscus cartilages from patients aged 11--74 years 20 (2%) had chondrocalcinosis. Age at onset of symptoms was 28--67 years, duration of symptoms until surgical removal of the meniscus six weeks to 20 years. All patients had pain, 12 had pain-independent limitations of knee movement. Effusions of the knee were present in ten. Independent of the radiological findings, in the majority of patients the symptoms were markedly improved or completely absent one-two years after meniscus removal. All meniscus specimens revealed severe changes both macroscopically and histologically. The clinical diagnosis confirmed by demonstrating calcium pyrophosphate crystals in haemalauneosin stained sections, examined by polarisation microscopy. The X-ray films demonstrated arthrosis in at least 50% of cases. There appeared to be a close mutual relationship between chondrocalcinosis and arthrosis of the knee-joint.