[A case of non-familial ulcer mutilating acropathy of the foot]. / Un caso di acropatia ulcero-mutilante non familiare del piede

ABSTRACT

A case of non-familial pseudo-syringomyelic acropathy is presented; in view of its rarity, numerous hypotheses had to be considered with regard both to diagnosis and to pathogenesis. It was first taken to be an undoubted case of osteomyelitis, but the rapid advance of the osteolytic form, which resisted all treatment both local and general, whether antibiotic, surgical or orthopaedic, led to consideration of the possibility of sarcoma or some other benign tumoral form. The conclusion was reached that doubtful diagnosis can be settled only by bioptic examination, whereas aetiopathogenetic doubts still remain within the field of hypotheses (Lattuada).