title: Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP): watch the great toes!
abstract: Fibrodysplasia ossificans progressiva (FOP) is a rare genetic disorder and the most disabling condition of heterotopic (extraskeletal) ossification in humans. Extraskeletal bone formation associated with inflammation preceding the osseous conversion usually begins in the first decade, predominantly in the head, neck, and shoulders. All patients have malformed great toes. Most patients have a spontaneous mutation of the ACVR1 gene. We report a 17-year-old girl with malformed great toes who had her first episode of heterotopic ossification and impaired mobility of the left hip at the age of 13 years. No inflammatory fibroproliferative masses preceded the onset of heterotopic ossification. Radiographic studies demonstrated myositis ossificans, but failure to associate the great toe malformation with heterotopic ossification led to a failure to diagnose FOP. She underwent repeated and unnecessary operative procedures to remove a recurrent lesion. FOP was finally suspected when the great toe malformation was correlated with the trauma-induced heterotopic ossification. Genetic analysis confirmed the presence of the classic FOP mutation (ACVR1 c.617G>A; R206H). This case highlights the importance of examining the great toes in anyone with heterotopic ossification. The association of malformations of the great toe with heterotopic ossification in all cases of classic FOP will lead to prompt clinical diagnosis and the prevention of iatrogenic harm.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, University Hospital, Freiburg, Germany. mutlu.kartal@uniklinik-freiburg.de
authors.forename: Mutlu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Kartal-Kaess
authors.forename: Eileen M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Shore
authors.forename: Meiqi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: Ludwig
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Schwering
authors.forename: Markus
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Uhl
authors.forename: Rudolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Korinthenberg
authors.forename: Charlotte
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Niemeyer
authors.forename: Frederick S
authors.initials: FS
authors.lastname: Kaplan
authors.forename: Melchior
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lauten
mesh_terms: D030201:Activin Receptors, Type I / Q000235:genetics*; D002648:Child; D004247:DNA / Q000235:genetics*; D004252:DNA Mutational Analysis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D009154:Mutation; D009221:Myositis Ossificans / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000235:genetics; D014034:Toes
chemical_list: D004247:DNA; C425423:ACVR1 protein, human; D030201:Activin Receptors, Type I