[Calcifying tendinitis of the femur--diagnosis and differential diagnosis exemplified by 5 cases].

Five cases of calcifying tendinitis of the femur are presented. Diagnosis were proved histologically or catamnestically. The calcifying tendinitis occurred secondary to localized regressive changes in 3 patients; in 2 cases systemic inflammatory disease had to be assumed. In patients with unclear femoral pain and radiologically visible calcifications, especially at the linea aspera, one should include a calcifying tendinitis in the differential diagnosis besides juxtacortical osteosarcoma and myositis ossificans. This entity can sometimes be a symptom of systemic disease such as psoriasis and palmoplantar pustulosis.