title: Sternocostoclavicular Joint Swelling; Diagnosis of a Neglected Entity.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Sternocostoclavicular joint (SCCJ) swelling is an underdiagnosed, albeit important entity in clinical practice. The present study was conducted in order to identify the incidence and common causes of this entity.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients presenting to the Orthopaedic Clinic with a swelling of the sternocostoclavicular joint, during the study period of two years were included, and detailed history was obtained from the patient. Baseline investigations (total and differential leukocyte count, ESR, CRP, X-ray and CT) wereperformed. Magnetic resonance imaging,FNAC or joint aspiration was performed whenever clinically or radiologically indicated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 21 patients were enrolled into the study for a duration of 2 years. Patients mainly presented with both pain and swelling of the SCCJ with predominant right sided involvement. Osteoarthritis was the most frequent diagnosis followed by infections, primary bone/cartilage tumor, and metastasis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although most of the patients with SCCJ swelling have a benign etiology, it is not wise to dismiss thisswelling as degenerative changes. Serious conditions like septic arthritis or neoplasia, may masquerade with similar presentations such as osteoarthritis. It would be therefore imperative to rule out all of these potentially life threatening conditions using thorough clinic-radiological workups.
authors.affiliation: Deep Sharma MD Department of Orthopaedics, PMR Block, Jawaharlal Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Puducherry, India.
authors.forename: Deep
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Sharma
authors.affiliation: Deep Sharma MD Department of Orthopaedics, PMR Block, Jawaharlal Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Puducherry, India.
authors.forename: Pooja
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dhiman
authors.affiliation: Deep Sharma MD Department of Orthopaedics, PMR Block, Jawaharlal Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Puducherry, India.
authors.forename: Jagdish
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Menon
authors.affiliation: Deep Sharma MD Department of Orthopaedics, PMR Block, Jawaharlal Institute of Post Graduate Medical Education and Research (JIPMER), Puducherry, India.
authors.forename: Komuravalli Varun
authors.initials: KV
authors.lastname: Krishna
keywords: Infection; Inflammatory; Neoplasia; Sternocostoclavicular; Swelling