[Anatomopathological introduction to the study of chondrocalcinosis]

Although the macroscopic aspects of chondrocalcinosis easily permit diagnosis, the morphological analysis of the basic lesion--the crystalline microgeode--raises the problem of the relationship between chondrocalcinosis and the chondrocyte lodge and arthrotic lesions. According to studies with the optical and electron microscope, the crystalline precipitate of calcium pyrophosphate in the basic cartilaginous substance always appears distinct from the chondrocytes, but in its vicinity the chondrocytes are often altered by degenerative lesions. There appears to be no relationship between arthrosis and chondrocalcinosis of frequency alone is considered.