Multiple rheumatoid bursitis with migrating chylous cysts. Report of a case in a European woman and review of the literature.
We report a case of recurrent multiple bursitis (19 episodes at nine sites) requiring seven surgical procedures in a European women with a 38-year history of severe, nodular, destructive seropositive rheumatoid arthritis unresponsive to second-line drugs. The episodes of bursitis were not correlated with activity of the joint disease. Some cysts migrated over a considerable distance. At least two cysts contained chylous fluid. The histologic study of one cyst demonstrated a cholesterol crystal granuloma. Potential relationships linking cholesterol crystals, chylous cysts, and migrating multiple bursitis are discussed. The relevant literature is reviewed.
Rheumatology Department, Nantes Teaching Hospital, France.
J M
JM
Berthelot
D
D
Huguet
F
F
Gouin
J
J
Letenneur
A
A
Bertrand-Vasseur
A
A
Moreau
R
R
Lemaitre
Y
Y
Maugars
A
A
Prost
D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis; D001706:Biopsy; D002062:Bursitis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D002913:Chyle; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D019637:Orthopedic Procedures / Q000379:methods; D011379:Prognosis; D012008:Recurrence; D012086:Reoperation; D013581:Synovial Cyst / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology* / Q000601:surgery