Pachydermoperiostosis Clinical Presentation

Updated: Apr 06, 2021
  • Author: Robert A Schwartz, MD, MPH; Chief Editor: William D James, MD  more...
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Presentation

History

Patients may report the following signs or symptoms:

  • Enlargement of the fingers and the toes

  • Swelling or pain of the large joints

  • Coarsening of facial features

  • Grooves or depressions in the scalp

  • Oily, scaly facial skin

  • Excessive sweating of the palms, soles, or other areas

  • A sensation of warmth or burning in the hands and feet

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Physical Examination

Digital clubbing and/or paronychial thickening may be observed (see the image below).

Clubbed fingernail. Clubbed fingernail.

Coarse facial features may be reminiscent of acromegaly. [39] Facial skin changes may include sclerodermoid thickening and furrowing of the skin on the forehead and the cheeks. Leonine facies may occur in advanced stages.

Cutis verticis gyrata (undulating grooved and thickened scalp) may become apparent during adolescence (see image below).

Cutis verticis gyrata. Courtesy of DermNet New Zea Cutis verticis gyrata. Courtesy of DermNet New Zealand (http://www.dermnetnz.org/assets/Uploads/dermal-infiltrative/cvg2.jpg).

Seborrheic dermatitis of the face and the scalp may be present.

Palmoplantar hyperhidrosis or generalized hyperhidrosis characterized by shiny and/or wet skin may be observed.

Dermatitis of the hands and the feet may be associated with hyperhidrosis.

Bilateral blepharoptosis may be present.

Facial acne may be present.

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Complications

Patients with pachydermoperiostosis or primary hypertropic osteoarthropathy may develop severe kyphosis, restricted motion, and neurologic manifestations.

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