Hypertrophic Pulmonary Osteoarthropathy - An Overlooked Clue of Lung Cancer

Abstract

Hypertrophic osteoarthropathy (HOA) is a syndrome that presents with classic findings of digital clubbing, arthralgia, and periostosis of tubular bones. When HOA is associated with pulmonary pathologies such as lung malignancies, it is referred to as hypertrophic pulmonary osteoarthropathy (HPOA). We present a case of an elderly woman who presents with significant pain in both hands and was eventually diagnosed with lung malignancy. This case is of interest to hospital-based internists to ensure timely diagnosis of HPOA so a brief overview of the presentation, laboratory findings, and treatment of HPOA is discussed.