Hypertrophic osteoarthropathy and thrombocytopenia associated with bronchial carcinoma

Symptoms: A 40-year-old woman presented with an arthritis of the knees and ankles, digital clubbing and thrombocytopenia. Examinations: Blood tests proved an inflammatory reaction. Clinical finding s were the above mentioned oliogoarthritis and a periostitis of the long ex tremity bones. Chest X-ray showed a lung tumor. Therapy: After surgical treatment of lung cancer both arthritis and thrombo cytopenia normalized. Conclusion: Hypertrophic osteoarthropathy is characterized by the combinati on of clubbing, arthropathy and periostitis. This paraneoplasia may be the presenting manifestation of occult malignancy. The diagnosis of hypertrophi c osteoarthropathy should cause an intensive search of cancer. Further asso ciated diseases are discussed.