Carpal and tarsal osteolysis: an MRI, angiographic and histopathologic study

Carpal-tarsal osteolysis with elbow involvement

Carpal-tarsal osteolysis is a rare condition that manifests as the progressive resorption of carpal and tarsal bones in young children. The diagnosis of this condition is often difficult and delayed as the initial clinical presentation is non-specific. Radiographic changes occur gradually, are often not seen at presentation and depend on recognising loss of bone in the ossification centres of the carpus and tarsus. MRI demonstrates morphological abnormalities in the cartilaginous, as well as the osseous components, of the developing carpal and tarsal bones and therefore may be helpful in predating the radiographic changes. Ultrasound appears to contribute little to the diagnosis and may be misleading. Exclusion of other conditions, particularly juvenile idiopathic arthritis, is important in making the diagnosis. MRI can be useful in excluding an inflammatory arthropathy, and suggesting the diagnosis of carpal-tarsal osteolysis.

Osteólise carpo-tarsal: relato de caso

Os autores relatam um caso de paciente do sexo masculino, com 42 anos de idade, com queixa de poliartralgia de caráter progressivo, iniciada na infância. O quadro evoluiu com deformidades de mãos e pés, impedindo-o de deambular. Não havia alterações associadas em outros sistemas. As radiografias das mãos e pés mostraram lise dos ossos do carpo, do tarso, metacarpais e metatarsais. A osteólise carpo-tarsal é uma síndrome rara, que necessita de uma melhor abordagem clínica, diagnóstica e terapêutica diante de novos casos.

Inherited multicentric osteolysis with arthritis: a variant resembling Torg syndrome in a Saudi family

The autosomal recessive multicentric osteolytic disorders of childhood-Torg, Winchester, and François syndromes-predominantly affect the carpal, tarsal, and interphalangeal joints, and their progressive bone loss and crippling arthritic deformities mimic severe juvenile rheumatoid arthritis. In a consanguineous Saudi Arabian family two affected sibs with facial anomalies and short stature displayed a distal arthropathy of the metacarpal, metatarsal, and interphalangeal joints starting in the first few months of life that eventually progressed to the proximal joints and resulted in crippling ankylosis and severe generalized osteopenia. Facial changes included proptosis, a narrow nasal bridge, bulbous nose, and micrognathia. In addition, they had large, painful fibrocollagenous palmar and plantar pads and mild body hirsutism. Affected individuals were of normal intelligence and had normal renal function. Routine hematologic, chemistry, and rheumatoid studies were within normal limits. Histologic examination of bone marrow and an interphalangeal joint biopsy were not informative. The autosomal recessive inheritance, clinical, and radiologic characteristics of the affected sibs suggested that they had a form of multicentric osteolysis most closely resembling the Torg syndrome, but with a unique facial appearance, fibrocollagenous pads, and body hirsutism not noted in the original description of the syndrome.