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Abstract
We report on a rare case of an intraosseous epidermoid cyst in the distal phalanx of the great toe with concurrent infection in a 71-year-old woman with diabetes mellitus. The lesion was initially considered simple infectious arthritis and concomitant osteomyelitis in a patient with diabetes. However, after surgery, an intraosseous epidermoid cyst originating from the nail bed and involving the articular surface of the distal phalanx was detected. The epidermoid cyst may have contributed to the infectious arthritis in the interphalangeal joint. The lesion was treated via mass excision, arthrotomy, debridement, and intravenous antibiotics.
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References
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 | Figure 1.Preoperative anteroposterior radiograph reveals a radiolucent and osteolytic lesion at the base of the great toe's distal phalanx, which is more prominent in the medial aspect. |
 | Figure 2.Preoperative magnetic resonance imaging findings. (A) A coronal T1-weighted image reveals an irregularly contoured nodular lesion at the distal phalanx. This lesion involves the great toe's distal phalanx with bony erosion and the adjacent flexor tendon. (B) A sagittal T2-weighted image reveals low signal intensity at the proximal and distal phalanx. (C) An enhanced T1-weighted image reveals low signal intensity at the great toe's proximal phalanx, synovial thickening with enhancement, and a small amount of joint effusion at the interphalangeal joint. |
 | Figure 3.Intraoperative findings. (A) The extracted nail plate and attached intraosseous epidermoid cyst. A dirty creamy-brown material filled the cyst. (B) The defect in the medial side of the nail bed due to the intraosseous epidermoid cyst. Mass excision and curettage was performed throughout the defect, and a silastic drain was implanted. |
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