This Article  • References  • Full text PDF  • Send to a friend  • Save in My Folder  • Save to citation manager  • Permissions  Citing Articles  • Citation map  • Citing articles on HighWire  • Contact me when this article is cited  Related Content  • Similar articles in JAMA  Social Bookmarking   What's this?

Etiologic and Radiological Considerations

Susan S. Kemp, MD; Murray K. Dalinka, MD; H. Ralph Schumacher, MD

JAMA. 1986;255(15):2058-2061.

	Since this article does not have an abstract, we have provided the first 150 words of the full text PDF and any section headings.

THE TERM acro-osteolysis refers to a destructive process involving one or more terminal phalanges. Distal phalangeal destruction usually occurs in association with a variety of systemic diseases or as a result of local factors (Table); a hereditary form also exists.

Variations in the radiological appearance of acro-osteolysis, depending on the area of the terminal phalanx involved, can be of help in suggesting different etiologies.¹ Resorption of the tips of the ungual tufts with variable involvement of the shafts and bases (sometimes termed acronecrosis²) may be observed in hyperparathyroidism, psoriasis, neurological disorders, and frostbite. Destruction of the proximal end of the distal phalanx by extension from disease of the distal interphalangeal joint occurs in psoriasis, rheumatoid arthritis, erosive osteoarthritis, and other rheumatic diseases. A transverse band of osteolysis may be noted in the shaft of the distal phalanx, leaving the tuft and proximal articular portion intact. This finding may . . . [Full Text PDF of this Article]

Author Affiliations
From the Department of Radiology (Drs Kemp and Dalinka) and the Rheumatology Section, Department of Medicine (Dr Schumacher), Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia; and the Veterans Administration Medical Center, Philadelphia (Dr Schumacher).

Footnotes
Reprint requests to the Department of Radiology, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania, 3400 Spruce St, Philadelphia, PA 19104 (Dr Dalinka).

CiteULike    Connotea    Del.icio.us    Digg    Reddit    Technorati    Twitter     What's this?