Palmar Fasciitis and Polyarthritis Syndrome Associated with Ovarian Carcinoma : A Case Report

Kim,  Seong Wan; Chung,  Moon Sang; Baek,  Goo Hyun; Jeon,  Suk Ha; Kwak,  Sang Ho; Gong,  Hyun Sik

Journal of the Korean Society for Surgery of the Hand 2009;14(1):33-35.
Published online March 1, 2009.

Seong Wan Kim, Moon Sang Chung, Goo Hyun Baek, Suk Ha Jeon, Sang Ho Kwak, Hyun Sik Gong

¹Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Seoul National University College of Medicine, Seoul, Korea. hsgong@snu.ac.kr
²Department of Orthopedic Surgery, National Police Hospital, Seoul, Korea.

Abstract

Palmar fasciitis and polyarthritis syndrome (PFPAS) is an uncommon paraneoplastic syndrome characterized by rapidly progressive flexion contracture of both hands, inflammatory fasciitis, fibrosis and generalized inflammatory arthritis. We report a case of PFPAS associated with ovarian carcinoma, which was initially misdiagnosed as seronegative rheumatoid arthritis. A correct diagnosis was made after the patient underwent surgery for a pelvic tumor, which was incidentally found on a CT scan that she had taken after sustaining a traffic accident. PFPAS is one of differential diagnoses for progressive flexion contracture of both hands presenting to hand surgeons, and a careful oncologic examination should be considered in a female patient with unexplained hand pain, digital contracture and generalized arthritis