Pseudoclubbing in a patient with sarcoidosis of the phalangeal bones

We treated a patient who had sarcoidosis with pseudoclubbing. The involvement was asymmetric and involved some fingertips more than others. It did not involve the toes. The pseudoclubbing totally disappeared with effective prednisone therapy. Roentgenograms of the hands showed bone cysts of the distal and middle phalanges, and a gallium citrate Ga 67 scan showed uptake in two of the phalanges. We believe the pseudoclubbing in this patient is a manifestation of phalangeal bone involvement by sarcoidosis with associated dactylitis. A literature review indicates that true clubbing can exist in patients with sarcoidosis, but this case indicates that it must be distinguished from dactylitis.