Osseous involvement in de Quervain's disease

Osseous involvement is usually not appreciated in de Quervain's stenosing tenosynovitis. A case of stenosing tenosynovitis accompanied by significant local osteoporosis in the radial styloid area and a corresponding positive area on a technetium-99m polyphosphonate bone scan provoked the author's interest in this entity. In seven consecutive patients with de Quervain's disease, six had evidence of osseous involvement of the radial styloid as demonstrated by roentgenographic studies and/or technetium bone scanning. In the process of differential diagnosis of a lytic lesion in the radial styloid area, de Quervain's tenosynovitis should be included.