Synovial chondromatosis of the acromioclavicular joint. A case report

Synovial chondromatosis involving the acromioclavicular joint occurred in a 20-year-old woman. Synovectomy including removal of loose bodies and resection of the distal end of the clavicle relieved symptoms. Synovial chondromatosis is a relatively rare disorder and seems not to have been reported in the acromioclavicular joint.     

Synovial chondromatosis of the temporomandibular joint

Synovial chondromatosis is an uncommon disease of cartilaginous transformation of synovial membrane with formation of loose bodies within the joint space. A case involving the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is presented. In the TMJ, this disorder occurs more often in females and is usually on the right side. Symptoms include preauricular swelling, pain, and tenderness. Radiographs of the TMJ may be normal, but frequently show multiple, partially calcified loose bodies within the joint. Treatment consists of removal of the loose bodies together with all affected synovium. If the meniscus is excised, reconstruction with a Silastic prosthesis is recommended.     

Synovial chondromatosis of the metacarpophalangeal joint

We describe a case of synovial chondromatosis in a metacarpophalangeal joint with invasion of local structures. The degree of local tissue involvement was not demonstrated on the preoperative MRI scans. This case highlights that synovial chondromatosis can be invasive and that even the best preoperative imaging may not demonstrate this.     

Synovial chondromatosis of the distal radioulnar joint

This case presentation of synovial chondromatosis describes a rare lesion in the distal radioulnar joint. The distal radioulnar joint was locked and damaged by an impinging chondral body. Use of standard resection principles produced an asymptomatic wrist.     

Synovial chondromatosis of the metacarpophalangeal joint.

The authors present a case of synovial chondromatosis localized on the left hand of a woman and discuss the pathogenesis, history and treatment of the synovial chondromatosis. The patient has been free of complaints for the 2 years since the operation.     

Synovial chondromatosis of the knee joint]

Authors removed more than hundred free bodies from the knee joint of a young female patient. In connection with their case the criteria of the synovial chondromatosis, the theories concerning the pathogenesis and the therapy to be chosen are described, based on literary data.     

Synovial chondromatosis in the distal interphalangeal joint

A case of synovial chondromatosis of the distal interphalangeal joint of the long finger with an 8-year follow-up is presented. The lesion recurred 4 years after simple synovectomy, requiring a second operation with arthrodesis.     

Synovial chondromatosis of the distal radioulnar joint.

Synovial chondromatosis is a rare lesion in the wrist and it is extremely uncommon in the distal radioulnar joint. This case presented with wrist pain, swelling and locking secondary to synovial chondromatosis of distal radioulnar joint.     

Synovial chondromatosis of the temporomandibular joint with intracranial extension

A 52-year-old man presented with an extremely rare case of synovial chondromatosis in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) with extension into the middle cranial fossa manifesting as swelling and exacerbation of pain. He had a long history of right TMJ disorders. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging showed a mass in the right TMJ with extension into the intracranial part through the destroyed temporal skull base. The preoperative diagnosis was chondrosarcoma or osteosarcoma. The patient underwent surgery via combined trans-zygomatic temporal skull base and pre-auricular approaches and the mass was totally removed. Histological examination found an enormous number of closely packed loose bodies of various sizes, consisting of hyaline chondrocytes. The histological diagnosis was synovial chondromatosis. This rare lesion is difficult to discriminate from chondrosarcoma, so total removal is essential for correct diagnosis and cure.     

Synovial chondromatosis of the metacarpophalangeal joint of the ring finger

Synovial chondromatosis is an uncommon condition, characterized by multinodular cartilagineous proliferation of the joint synovium. There are only a few case reports of synovial chondromatosis involving the hand in the literature. A case of synovial chondromatosis of the ring finger is reported in this paper.     

Synovial chondromatosis

Two patients were evaluated for a complaint of long-standing hip pain. No etiology of their progressively disabling symptoms was found by routine diagnostic studies. Hip arthrography and arthrotomography in each case, however, demonstrated multiple intraarticular filling defects consistent with nonradiopaque loose bodies. These were subsequently confirmed at arthrotomy. Synovial chondromatosis is a rare disease in which intrasynovial cartilage metaplasia results in multiple intracapsular loose bodies. Its presence in plain radiographs is uncommon, but has been previously documented. This can account for frequent long delays in accurate diagnosis. Arthrography and/or arthrotomography, however, can be key diagnostic tools. They are recommended in the evaluation of patients whose relatively normal initial clinical examination, laboratory, and roentgenographic studies fail to adequately explain the presence of genuinely disabling symptoms.     

Synovial chondromatosis of the pisotriquetral joint producing ulnar nerve palsy

A case of synovial chondromatosis compressing the motor branch of the ulnar nerve of the left hand is presented. Radiographs demonstrated soft tissue calcification. The electrophysiological study confirmed denervation of the intrinsic hand muscles. During surgical exploration, synovial chondromatosis arising from the pisotriquetral joint compressing on the motor branch of the ulnar nerve was seen. Treatment consisted of pisiformectomy, partial synovectomy and removal of loose bodies.     

Synovial chondromatosis and instability of the proximal tibiofibular joint.

A patient with synovial chondromatosis involving both posterior compartments of the right knee and proximal tibiofibular joint had continued pain and weakness after partial synovectomy. The "Helfet Test" for proximal tibiofibular joint instability was positive; the fibular head was prominent and tender. Following excision of the proximal fibula, the patient was symptom free. This case demonstrates that it is essential to evaluate all joints involved with a disease process prior to surgical intervention.     

Synovial chondromatosis of the temporomandibular joint with condylar extension.

Synovial chondromatosis is a benign disease that rarely affects the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). It can be seen commonly in the superior joint space and presents with various signs and symptoms according to the stage of progression. Sometimes it presents as a large swelling in the preauricular area with or without cranial extension, and the clinical and radiographic findings may be misdiagnosed as other benign or malignant diseases of TMJ. Therefore, we report an uncommon case of synovial chondromatosis presenting as a large preauricular mass arising from the inferior joint space of the TMJ with bony resorption of the mandibular condyle, which mimicked osteochondroma.     

Synovial chondromatosis of the glenohumeral joint: a rare condition

The case of a 22-year-old man with synovial chondromatosis (SC) of the shoulder joint is described. A literature review confirmed that SC of the glenohumeral joint is very rare and that the etiology of the disease is still unknown. The diagnosis is often delayed, and the preferred form of management remains controversial. We consider magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) a valuable tool in detecting SC at an early phase and estimating the intrasynovial extent of the disease. Shoulder arthroscopy today represents an elegant treatment option for removing the chondromas and performing a partial synovectomy. It might, however, be insufficent in cases of involvement of the bicipital tendon sheath and other recesses of the joint.