Non-neoplastic hyperthrophic osteoarthropathy on the base of an infected aortic prosthesis. Aspects of diagnostic imaging

Secondary hypertrophic osteoarthropathy of the legs is a rare complication of arterial graft surgery. The syndrome is composed of arthralgias, clubbin g of the toes and periostosis of the long bones and is usually associated w ith an infected aortic prosthesis. Often a CT-guided biopsy is performed in order to identify the graft as the primary focus. In addition to the lamel lar periostosis demonstrable by conventional radiographs,a vast edema of th e bone marrow and surrounding soft tissue is disclosed by MRI. Imaging prom otes the early surgical reintervention.