Pachydermodactyly in a 16-year-old adolescent boy

• Published in: Journal of clinical rheumatology Vol. 18; no. 5; pp. 246 - 248
• Main Authors: Dias, João Madruga, Costa, Maria Manuela, Romeu, José Carlos, Soares-Almeida, Luís, Filipe, Paulo, Pereira da Silva, José Alberto
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01-08-2012
• ISSN: 1536-7355
• DOI: 10.1097/RHU.0b013e3182614d08

Pachydermodactyly is a superficial benign fibromatosis of unknown etiology; it is rare, more frequent in adolescent males, and characterized by painless swelling of the proximal interphalangeal joints(PIP) of the hands. Histologic examination of the skin shows epidermal hyperplasia and increased number of dermal fibroblasts and collagen fibers.We report the case of a 16-year-old adolescent boy who presented swelling of the lateral and dorsal regions of all the metacarpophalangeal and PIP joints of the left hand and PIP and metacarpophalangeal joints of the second and fifth fingers of the right hand, with 3 years of evolution and no arthritis or functional impairment. Results of complementary diagnostic examinations were normal, with the exception of hand ultra sound that showed skin thickening, without synovial proliferation or joint effusion. Skin biopsy confirmed pachydermodactyly. The patient under went aesthetic surgery with good outcome, without recurrence.This rare condition should be distinguished from idiopathic juvenile arthritis and other entities such as knuckle pads syndrome.