Pachydermodactyly – a report of two cases

• Main Authors: Zbigniew Żuber, Grzegorz Dyduch, Andrzej Jaworek, Dorota Turowska-Heydel, Małgorzata Sobczyk, Marta Banach-Górnicka, Katarzyna Rusnak, Wojciech Górecki
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Published: Termedia Publishing House 2016-07-01
• Series: Rheumatology
• Subjects: pachydermodactyly; hands involvement; proximal interphalangeal joints
• Online Access: http://www.termedia.pl/Pachydermodactyly-a-report-of-two-cases,18,27995,1,1.html
• ISSN: 0034-6233; 2084-9834

Pachydermodactyly (PDD) is a rare and benign form of digital soft tissues fibromatosis, which affects the skin of the fingers. The disorder is characterized by asymptomatic, symmetric, progressive soft tissue swelling of the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joints of the fingers. The etiology of disease remains unknown. It is usually acquired, even though there are some publications that document family cases. It affects mainly adolescent men. We report two boys with the bilateral swelling of the of the PIP joints of the fingers and skin and subcutaneous tissue thickening. Based on clinical manifestations, radiological study and histopathological examination, pachydermodactyly was diagnosed. PDD is a rare and benign disorder, although it is important to consider other diseases, especially rheumatic conditions, in the differential diagnosis in order to avoid unnecessary additional tests and treatments.