Deposition of calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystals in the hand

Abstract

A rare case with deposition of calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystals around the proximal portion of the first and second metacarpal bones is reported. The second metacarpal had a cystic lesion, and the cortex of the first metacarpal had irregular osteolytic change. There were degenerative changes in the first carpometacarpal joint, trapeziotrapezoid articulation, and second carpometacarpal joint. The patient had recurrent acute inflammatory attacks at the affected site. Initially the patient was thought to have tumoral calcinosis, or a calcifying soft-tissue tumor, with the possibility of a malignant tumor because of angiographic evidence of tumor stain and hypervascularity. Surgical biopsy with partial curettage of the calcified mass resulted in early recurrence of deposition of the crystals. Total excision would seem to be necessary to avoid recurrence. © 1988.