HYPERTROPHIC OSTEOARTHROPATHY AND INTRATHORACIC HODGKIN-DISEASE OF CHILDHOOD

Background. Hypertrophic osteoarthropathy (HOA), well known in adults, is rarely encountered in children. The clinical features include club bing of the fingers and toes, arthritis, and painful periosteal new ho ne formation of the tubular bones. The association of malignant disord ers with HOA is more common in adults than in children. Case. in this paper, a 12-year-old boy with intrathoracic Hodgkin disease and HOA is presented and lour other children with HOA and Hodgkin disease in the literature reviewed. Discussion. The presence of HOA has been thought to be a bad prognostic sign, but complete remission of Hodgkin diseas e and regression of clinical signs and symptoms of HOA were attained i n our patient after chemotherapy and radiotherapy, and continue during 9 months post-therapy follow-up. Conclusions, HOA accompanying a mali gnant tumor in children is very rare. Only 5 cases have been associate d with Hodgkin disease, including the present boy, It is important tha t patients with symptoms of HOA and an intrathoracic mass be examined carefully to rule out a malignancy. (C) 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.