title: Heterotopic ossification presenting as acute arthritis.
abstract: We describe a patient with acute myeloblastic leukemia in remission who developed painful, swollen knees 6 weeks after being ventilated for acute respiratory distress syndrome. Synovial fluid analysis was nondiagnostic and initial radiographs of his knees were normal. Repeat radiographs 5 weeks later showed periarticular calcification and the diagnosis of heterotopic ossification was made. Heterotopic ossification should be part of the differential diagnosis of acute arthritis in critically ill patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, Loyola University Stritch School of Medicine, Maywood, IL 60153.
authors.forename: E W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Kun
authors.forename: W G
authors.initials: WG
authors.lastname: Barr
mesh_terms: D000208:Acute Disease; D000328:Adult; D001168:Arthritis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D007717:Knee / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008297:Male; D009999:Ossification, Heterotopic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D011859:Radiography