Case 181: synovitis acne pustulosis hyperostosis osteitis (SAPHO) syndrome

The challenging diagnosis of synovitis-acne-pustulosis-hyperostosis-osteitis (SAPHO) syndrome: A rare case report

Considered rare, the synovitis-acne-pustulosis-hyperostosis-osteitis (SAPHO) syndrome is a distinct clinical entity, associating skin manifestations and osteoarticular symptoms. Anterior chest wall pain centered at sternoclavicular and sternocostal joints is an important and characteristic clinical finding that can lead to its diagnosis. Radiologists and clinicians must be aware of synovitis-acne-pustulosis-hyperostosis-osteitis syndrome as it can mimic some of the more common disease entities such as Paget's disease. We report the case of a 63-year-old male patient, with no significant medical history, who presented to the dermatology department, with severe palmar and plantar pustulosis associated with polyarthralgia. Computerized tomography scan showed sternoclavicular hyperostosis, in favor of SAPHO syndrome, with regression of clinical symptoms after non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug treatment.

SAPHO syndrome: A radiological case report

The SAPHO syndrome (synovitis–acne–pustulosis–hyperostosis–osteitis syndrome) is a rare chronic inflammatory disease of unknown etiology. Herein, we present a case of incidentally detected SAPHO syndrome in a middle-aged male patient who visited the hospital for pulmonary complaints.

Multimodal imaging findings of SAPHO syndrome with no skin lesions: A report of three cases and review of the literature

Synovitis, acne, palmoplantar pustulosis, hyperostosis and osteitis syndrome (SAPHO) is a rare syndrome that affects the skin, bones and joints. Diagnosis of SAPHO syndrome is established on clinical appearance and imaging features. The present case report described the imaging features of three cases of SAPHO with sternoclavicular joint arthritis but without skin manifestations using multiple imaging modalities, including computed tomography (CT), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and bone scintigraphy. The first case was a 52-year-old male who suffered from progressive sternoclavicular arthritis for 2 years. The second case was a 62-year-old female with arthritis in the larger joints for 5 years, particularly on the right thoracic area. The third case was a 44-year-old male who exhibited a slight bulge accompanied by pain in the upper anterior chest wall for 4 years. All of them lacked cutaneous lesions. CT demonstrated sclerosis and hyperostosis with subchondral erosions in the sternocostoclavicular joints. MRI revealed bone marrow edema that was slightly hypointense on T1-weighted imaging, and hyperintense on T2-weighted imaging. Typical 'bull head' signs were observed in bone scintigraphy images. The present case study demonstrated that SAPHO syndrome should be suspected in patients with multifocal osteitis or arthritis affecting the chest wall that lack skin manifestations. Multimodal imaging modalities in combination are helpful for SAPHO diagnosis.

The SAPHO syndrome revisited with an emphasis on spinal manifestations

The synovitis, acne, pustulosis, hyperostosis, and osteitis (SAPHO) syndrome includes a group of chronic, relapsing, inflammatory musculoskeletal disorders with similar manifestations, in particular synovitis, hyperostosis, and osteitis, which may or may not be associated with neutrophilic skin eruptions such as palmoplantar pustulosis and acne conglobata. The syndrome occurs at any age, can involve any skeletal site, and its imaging appearances are variable, depending on the stage/age of the lesion and imaging method. The diagnosis is difficult if there is no skin disease. Awareness of the imaging appearances, especially in the spine, may help the radiologist in avoiding misdiagnosis (e.g., infection, tumor) and unnecessary invasive procedures, while facilitating early diagnosis and selection of an effective treatment. In this article, we provide an overview of the radiological appearances of SAPHO syndrome, focusing on the magnetic resonance imaging findings of vertebral involvement, and present relevant clinical and pathological features that assist early diagnosis.