Synovial chondromatosis of the shoulder
Arthroscopic view into a shoulder with synovial chondromatosis. Loose bodies are destroying the shoulder joint. A malignant transformation is possible.
What is it ? It´s a disease of the synovial membrane. The synovial membrane is lying
at the inner side of the shoulder joint and producing the joint fluid. In
rare cases ( less than 1% of the patients seen in a shoulder clinic ) the
synovial membrane cells turn into a kind of cartilage cells. So, they are
changing into loose bodies that will destroy the shoulder joint. This is called
a primary synovial chondromatosis.
In patients suffering from pain due to an arthrosis of the shoulder joint,
synovial chondromatosis can develop concomitantly. Then we call it a secondary
synovial chondromatosis.
What do I feel ? In the early stadium of the disease people don´t have any problems and it will be recognized accidentally . In the progressive stadium synovial chondromatosis is causing pain, cracking and / or swelling of the shoulder.
In an early stage of disease, synovectomy can stop the disease.
How is the diagnosis made ? Synovial chondromatosis can be diagnosed with MRI in the early stadium. As disease develops, first, calcium deposits may be seen on x-rays. Such a single calcium deposit will turn into numerous loose or adherent bodies, which can be recognized on MRI or x-ray. Mostly, these changes of the synovial membrane occur inside the shoulder joints. Sometimes it is possible that it occurs in the subacromial space or at the biceps tendon.
Numerous loose bodies of the synovial chondromatosis have caused a complete destruction of the shoulder joint. A shoulder prosthesis was necessary.
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Other themes & sites arround the shoulder:
Diseases of the shoulder ( german ): http://www.schulterinfo.de , http://www.schulter.info
Diseases of the shoulder ( english ): http://www.shoulderinformation.com
Shoulder arthroplasty: http://www.schulterprothesen.net , http://www.schulterprothesen.com , http://www.shoulderprosthesis.com , http://www.prothesenatlas.de
Frozen shoulder ( german ): http://www.schultersteife.de
Shoulder specialists ( german ): http://www.schulterspezialisten.de
Shoulder examination ( german ): http://www.schulteruntersuchung.de
Shoulder videos ( german ): http://www.schultervideo.de