ACR Meeting Abstracts

ACR Meeting Abstracts

Abstract Number: 237

The Prevalence of Chondrocalcinosis of the Symphysis Pubis on CT Scan and Correlation with Calcium Pyrophosphate Dihydrate Crystal Deposition Disease

Trusha Patel1, Lawrence Ryan2, Melissa DuBois3, Guillermo Carrera3, Keith Baynes3, Rajeev Mannem3 and Jennifer Mulkerin3, 1Rheumatology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 2Department of Rheumatology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI, 3Radiology, Medical College of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, WI

Meeting: 2015 ACR/ARHP Annual Meeting

Date of first publication: September 29, 2015

Keywords: ,

Session Information

Date: Sunday, November 8, 2015

Title: Metabolic and Crystal Arthropathies Poster I

Session Type: ACR Poster Session A

Session Time: 9:00AM-11:00AM

Background/Purpose: Calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate  (CPP) crystal deposition in articular cartilage can often be seen radiographically as chondrocalcinosis (CC). CPP crystals preferentially deposit in fibrocartilages such as the knee menisci and symphysis pubis (SP). We sought to determine the prevalence of CC in the SP on computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen and pelvis. 

Methods: This retrospective study involved readings on 1070 consecutive CTs of the abdomen and pelvis performed over 3 months in patients over 65 years of age. Medical records of 226 patients found to have CC were reviewed to determine age, gender, documentation of CPPD on problem lists or in medical histories, and whether radiology readings of the CTs mentioned CC. 

Results: SP CC was identified in 21.1% (226/1070) of consecutive CT scans with the mean age of CT+ patients being 78.6. Of the 226 patients with SP CC, the observation of CC was documented in only 5.3% (12/226) of the radiology reports. Of the 12 instances in which the radiology reports mentioned CC, this observation was never (0/12) transmitted to the medical history or problem list.

Conclusion:  The prevalence of CC in patients older than 65 was 21.1%. Since CTs of the abdomen are not ordered for evaluation of musculoskeletal conditions, this is likely a true prevalence without selection bias. When CC of the SP was present on images, radiologists routinely overlooked or chose not to report CC. Even in the rare instances when it was reported, that information was not added to the medical history or problem list. There are several clinical situations in which recognizing that a patient has CPP deposition (e.g acute monoarthritis) would be useful. Taking the time to review images may yield clinically important findings that are not mentioned anywhere on the patient chart.

Disclosure: T. Patel, None; L. Ryan, None; M. DuBois, None; G. Carrera, None; K. Baynes, None; R. Mannem, None; J. Mulkerin, None.

To cite this abstract in AMA style:

Patel T, Ryan L, DuBois M, Carrera G, Baynes K, Mannem R, Mulkerin J. The Prevalence of Chondrocalcinosis of the Symphysis Pubis on CT Scan and Correlation with Calcium Pyrophosphate Dihydrate Crystal Deposition Disease [abstract]. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2015; 67 (suppl 10). https://acrabstracts.org/abstract/the-prevalence-of-chondrocalcinosis-of-the-symphysis-pubis-on-ct-scan-and-correlation-with-calcium-pyrophosphate-dihydrate-crystal-deposition-disease/. Accessed .

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