Flexion contracture of the thumb: a malignant etiology.
A patient was first seen with a flexion deformity of the thumb interphalangeal joint that was initially diagnosed and treated as traumatic in origin. A painful forearm soft tissue mass was ultimately discovered; biopsy of the flexor pollicis longus tendon showed metastatic adenocarcinoma. Extensive evaluation failed to locate the origin of the primary tumor. Treatment consisted of local radiation and systemic chemotherapy. After 1 year, the patient is alive and well, has no evidence of disease, and refuses correction of the thumb interphalangeal flexion contracture.
Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, University of Cincinnati Medical Center, Ohio.
J M
JM
McGraw
P J
PJ
Stern
D000230:Adenocarcinoma / Q000150:complications* / Q000556:secondary; D001943:Breast Neoplasms; D003286:Contracture / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D005384:Finger Joint; D005542:Forearm; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009135:Muscular Diseases / Q000150:complications*; D013933:Thumb