Historical Image Challenge

May 15th 2012

MOUSE OVER IMAGE TO ZOOM

question

This patient presented with hand weakness. What is the cause of this x-ray finding?

Osteoporosis Gout Rheumatoid Arthritis Amyloid Leprosy

TRY AGAIN!
That was not the preferred response.

CORRECT!
This 1979 article describes a young woman who presented with hand weakness, found to have claw-like deformities of her fingers with generalized muscle atrophy on x-ray. This case discusses the differential of her peripheral neuropathy and associated renal insufficiency. Biopsies of nerve, muscle and skin ultimately revealed mycobacterium leprae to be the culprit. Article Link: http://www.nejm.org/doi/full/10.1056/NEJM197903083001008

answer

more image challenge

>> See images from today