Hypertrophic osteoarthropathy in renal cell carcinoma - A case report

• Published in: Anesthesia and pain medicine (Korean society of anesthesiologists) Vol. 16; no. 3; pp. 290 - 294
• Main Authors: Oh, Kyung Seo, Lee, Seung Young, Min, Se-Hee, Ryu, Choongun, Shin, Hwa-Yong
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korean Society of Anesthesiologists 01-07-2021; 대한마취통증의학회
• Subjects: paraneoplastic syndrome; periostitis; renal cell carcinoma; scintigraphy; secondary hypertrophic osteoarthropathy; Spinal Pain; 마취과학
• ISSN: 1975-5171; 2383-7977
• DOI: 10.17085/apm.20092

Hypertrophic osteoarthropathy (HOA) is a rare clinical condition including an abnormal periosteal reaction in the long bones that causes painful swelling and tenderness of the extremities, digital clubbing, arthritis, synovitis, and joint effusions. Most cases are associated with tumorous conditions and most commonly with lung cancer. HOA has been rarely reported in association with other cancers. A patient with a history of recurrent renal cell carcinoma was referred to our clinic with bilateral leg pain, knee joint effusion, and arthritis. Simple radiography and bone scintigraphy confirmed a diagnosis of HOA. Oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs, joint fluid aspiration, and intra-articular injection of pain medications were found to be effective in the management of HOA pain. HOA prognosis depends on the underlying disease, therefore, cancer treatment is critical. This case demonstrates the need to consider HOA in patients with various malignancies who present with bone or joint pain of the extremities.