Munchausen's syndrome simulating reflex sympathetic dystrophy

A 15 year old girl who had pain, oedema of her left hand, and fever of four months' duration is described. Marked demineralisation of her hand was shown by radiography, and increased articular uptake by technetium-99m bone scan. All these changes were indistinguishable from reflex sympathetic d...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Annals of the rheumatic diseases 1990-12, Vol.49 (12), p.1010-1012
Main Authors: Rodriguez-Moreno, J, Ruiz-Martin, J M, Mateo-Soria, L, Rozadilla, A, Roig-Escofet, D
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Adolescent
Biological and medical sciences
Diagnosis, Differential
Diseases of the osteoarticular system
Distròfia simpàtica reflexa
Female
Humans
Inflammatory joint diseases
Malingering
Medical sciences
Munchausen Syndrome - diagnosis
Reflex sympathetic dystrophy
Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy - diagnosis
Simulació (Medicina)
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Description
Summary:A 15 year old girl who had pain, oedema of her left hand, and fever of four months' duration is described. Marked demineralisation of her hand was shown by radiography, and increased articular uptake by technetium-99m bone scan. All these changes were indistinguishable from reflex sympathetic dystrophy. After two admissions to hospital and multiple explorations we discovered that she had induced her symptoms herself and a diagnosis of Munchausen's syndrome was made. As far as we know this presentation has not been previously reported and might help to explain the physiopathology of some signs of reflex sympathetic dystrophy.
ISSN:0003-4967
1468-2060
DOI:10.1136/ard.49.12.1010