Osteolysis with detritic synovitis. A new syndrome.

A new pattern of osteolysis accompanied by detritic synovitis occurred in a 71-year-old woman. The patient had a severe, destructive, and multilating arthropathy of her hands, with distal phalangeal deformity. Radiographs outlined bone resorption of the appendicular and axial skeleton, with involvement of phalanges, metacarpals, metatarsals, clavicles, long bones, and spine. There was no notable occupational history nor laboratory evidence of hyperparathyroidism. Pathological evaluation revealed synovial ulceration and necrosis, and necrotic bone embedded with fibrotic synovium. This patient's abnormalities appear to represent a new pattern of osteolysis that can be distinguished from other disorders.