Malignant disease mimicking arthritis of the hip

Abstract

ARTHRITIS of the hip is a common problem, and although standard medical textbooks include cancer in the differential diagnosis of arthritis, malignant disease is an uncommon source of hip pain and is, therefore, a difficult diagnosis to make. Seven patients with malignant disease masquerading as hip arthritis were examined at the Johns Hopkins-University of Maryland Comprehensive Rheumatic Disease Unit between 1971 and 1976. During this time, a total of 2,458 patients were admitted to the unit for examination and treatment of rheumatic complaints. <h3>Representative Cases</h3><h3>Case 1.—</h3> A healthy, 89-year-old man had had right hip pain for 2 1/2 months prior to admission. His physician prescribed propoxyphene hydrochloride and later ibuprofen as the pain worsened and spread to both shoulders. The patient was referred to us for evaluation of his arthritis when ibuprofen no longer controlled the pain. Two years earlier, the patient had undergone a suprapubic prostatectomy with a