Hypertrophic Osteoarthropathy and Digital clubbing in Lung Adenocarcinoma

Hypertrophic osteoarthropathy (HOA) is characterized by digital clubbing, tubular bones periostosis and synovial effusions mostly in the large joints. While HOA can present as primary bone disease, it is often encountered in lung adenocarcinoma. Although not directly relevant to foot diseases, we believe that the characteristics of hypertrophic osteoarthropathy should be recognized among podiatrists and in general physicians involved with hand and foot abnormalities. We believe that the submitted clinical image has educational value for medical students, residents, and practicing clinicians. The physician should recognize digital clubbing when evaluating a patient with such a clinical manifestation, shortening the time to diagnosis and improving the outcome. A case report and discussion is presented describing HOA features.

ypertrophic osteoarthropathy or HOA is characterized by digital clubbing, tubular bones periostosis and synovial effusions mostly in the large joints.It can be primary or secondary usually associated with lung cancer and more often with adenocarcinoma. 1

Case Report
A 62 year-old man presented reporting cough, weight loss and anorexia during the last 6 months.He stated also that his fingers "look different".Medical history was remarkable for heavy smoking over 30 years.He was diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma and HOA. (Fig. 1) The Foot and Ankle Online Journal Figure 2 In the normal finger, the length of the perpendicular dropped from point A to point B should be greater than a similar line from C to D. In clubbing, the relationships are reversed -that is, the angle between C and D is greater than the angle of A and B. The other important change is the angle described by A, C and E. In the normal finger this is usually <180 degrees whereas in clubbing it is >180 degrees.Redrawn from DeRemee, RA.Facets of the algorithmic synthesis.In: DeRemee, RA, (Ed), Clinical profiles of diffuse interstitial pulmonary disease, Mount Kisco, NY, Futura Publishing Company, Inc, 1990, pp. 9-44.(Copy with permission) Figure 2 describes and illustrates digital clubbing.In the normal nail, the distance between A and B is greater than the distance between C and D. This nail characteristic is reversed in clubbing.In addition, the angle described by A-C-E is characteristically > 180 ° in clubbing, whereas in normal subjects is <180°.HOA diagnosis should prompt further evaluation, since frequent causes include lung neoplasm, either primary or secondary.

Discussion
HOA is a syndrome characterized by abnormal proliferation of the skin and osseous tissue at the distal parts of the extremities.There is a primary form, not associated with any other medical disorders, and a secondary form usually associated with lung cancer, pulmonary infections, right-to-left cardiac shunts, as well as other less common entities. 2ong patients with lung cancer, HOA is most frequently associated with adenocarcinoma and least frequently with small cell carcinoma.In one series of 111 consecutive patients with pathologically proven lung cancer, clubbing was present in 29 percent; the phenomenon was more common among women than men (40 versus 19 percent). 6inical features of HOA include digital clubbing, periostosis of tubular bones, and synovial effusions, which are most prominent in the large joints.Periostosis is usually accompanied by pain on palpation of the involved area.Some patients present with a painful arthropathy in advance of clubbing which may be confused with inflammatory arthritis.
Clubbing and HOA appear to be different manifestations of the same disease process. 5It is thought that localized activation of the plateletendothelial cells, with the subsequent release of fibroblast growth factor (s) (e.g., platelet-derived growth factor) plays an important role in the pathogenesis of HOA. 4 The frequent association with lung disease raises the possibility that circulatory bypass of the lung may play an important role.One hypothesis is that megakaryocytes escape the normal fragmentation in the lung to platelets, and reach the distal extremities where they release growth factors. 7 alternate explanation involves tumor production and release into the circulation of a factor that promotes features of HOA such as vascular proliferation, edema formation, and new bone formation.One candidate is vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). 8

Figure 1 A
Figure 1 A 62 year-old male with diagnosed lung adenocarcinoma and associated finger nail clubbing.