General case of the day. Synovial chondromatosis

Primary synovial osteochondromatosis of the ankle: A case report and review of the literature

Primary synovial osteochondromatosis of the ankle is a rare and benign disease of the young adult. It is characterized by the formation of multiple nodules of hyaline cartilage under the synovium. It is usually asymptomatic but can sometimes be revealed by pain or joint mobility disorders. X-rays and CT scans can easily diagnose calcified osteochondromas, but ultrasound and MRI can provide a quicker diagnosis by visualizing non-calcified foreign bodies. Surgery under arthroscopy remains the best therapeutic choice, however, this pathology still causes recurrence in less than 1/3 of cases.

Intermetatarsal bursa primary synovial chondromatosis: case report and review of the literature

Primary synovial chondromatosis is a benign neoplastic process, occurring mostly in large joints, more rarely in tendon sheaths, and extremely uncommonly in bursae. We describe a patient with primary synovial chondromatosis arising in the fourth intermetatarsal bursa. Knowledge of the bursal anatomy of the forefoot, and of characteristic imaging findings and the pathogenesis of synovial chondromatosis, is essential in including this uncommon entity in the differential when occurring in unusual locations.

Primary synovial chondromatosis of the subtalar joint affecting two brothers

Primary synovial chondromatosis is a rare benign condition characterized by the formation of multiple cartilaginous nodules in the synovium of joints and on occasions tendon sheaths or bursae. A case of primary synovial chondromatosis affecting the subtalar joint is reported. The patient's brother developed the same condition affecting the same joint 2 years later. The proposed etiologies are discussed including the presence of the proto-oncogene C-erb B-2.