Arthralgia and digital clubbing in a child: hypertrophic osteoarthropathy with inflammatory pseudotumour of the lung

Scand J Rheumatol. 2004;33(3):189-91. doi: 10.1080/03009740310004702.

Abstract

Arthralgia in childhood is an unspecific symptom. One rare cause of arthralgia is hypertrophic osteoarthropathy associated with digital clubbing. We present a child where hypertrophic osteoarthropathy led to the rare diagnosis of an inflammatory pseudotumour of the lung. In a 12-year-old girl with arthralgia and digital clubbing, a chest radiograph disclosed a large round mass in the right upper lobe, and the following chest computed tomography scan showed a large solid homogenous, round, well marginated lesion with little contrast enhancement. A lobectomy of the right upper lobe was performed, and histological examination showed an inflammatory pseudotumour. The postoperative course was without problems: arthralgia and digital clubbing disappeared.

Publication types

  • Case Reports

MeSH terms

  • Arthralgia / etiology*
  • Child
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Osteoarthropathy, Primary Hypertrophic / complications*
  • Osteoarthropathy, Primary Hypertrophic / etiology*
  • Osteoarthropathy, Secondary Hypertrophic / complications*
  • Osteoarthropathy, Secondary Hypertrophic / pathology*
  • Plasma Cell Granuloma, Pulmonary / complications*
  • Plasma Cell Granuloma, Pulmonary / surgery
  • Pneumonectomy
  • Treatment Outcome