A case of pulmonary hypertrophic osteoarthropathy associated with lung cancer improved by resection of the primary lesion

We report a case of pulmonary hypertrophic osteoarthropathy in which symptomatic improvement occurred after surgery to remove lung cancer. A 54- year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of arthralgia and abnormality of a chest radiograph. The chest radiograph and CT revealed a tumor in the upper field of the left lung. He had a purple, clubbed finger. Bone scintigraphy revealed accumulation of long bones diffusely and symmetrically. He was given a tentative diagnosis of primary lung cancer T2N0M0 Stage I B. A left upper lobectomy was performed. Pathologic diagnosis was T4 (reached the mediastinum) NOMO StagelllB. After surgery, arthralgia and purple, clubbed finger were improved. As a result, he was diagnosed as having pulmonary hypertrophic osteoarthropathy.