Thick Skin of Finger Joints. Pachydermodactyly. Minireview.

Overview

Pachydermodactyly (PDD) is a rare, benign dermatosis characterized by asymptomatic, progressive swelling of the periarticular soft tissue mainly of the lateral parts of the second through fourth PIP joints. The thumb is usually spared. The periarticular tissue of the toes is never affected. It mainly affects young men, most often adolescents, with a male : female ratio of

3.9 : 1. Swelling of the PIP joints develops asymptomatically for several years with subsequent stabilization of the condition. Correct diagnosis of PDD prevents unnecessary examination of the patient and inappropriately chosen often immunosuppressive treatment. The authors present the case of a 21year-old man with non-progressive infliction lasting 6 years, its differential diagnosis and a review of the current literature.

Keywords:

pachydermodactyly – histopathology – differential diagnosis – proximal interphalangeal joint – painless swelling