Rheumatoid nodulosis of the hand.

Rheumatoid nodulosis is an uncommon variant of rheumatoid disease with distinctive clinical and radiographic characteristics and a favorable prognosis. This is in contrast to the poor prognosis for the severe form of rheumatoid disease with which rheumatoid nodules are often associated. A case of rheumatoid nodulosis of the hand treated with complete resection of the nodules is presented with a 2.5-year follow-up. Fourteen cases of documented rheumatoid nodulosis are reviewed and surgical treatment is recommended for both functional and cosmetic reasons.