People usually complain of pain in one joint, which persists for months, or even years, does not ease with exercise, steroid injection or heat treatment, shows nothing on X-ray, but shows a definite restriction of movement. There are 3 defined stages to this disease: * early: no loose bodies but active synovial disease; * transitional: active synovial disease, and loose bodies; * late: loose bodies but no synovial disease; In the early stages of the disease it is often confused with tendinitis and/or arthritis. Once it reaches transitional the loose bodies become apparent with X-ray in greater than 70% of cases, with MRI often showing where xray fails. In experienced hands, ultrasound is also useful for the diagnosis. In the disease, the thin flexible membrane of the synovium gradually forms blisters which calcify and enlarge. These nodules eventually break free and float around the joint space becoming larger – these add to the discomfort and stiffness of the joint. The disease is rare and little known and there is currently no known cure. The affected tissue will show up as a semi-solid mass in an MRI scan, final diagnosis is usually confirmed by taking a biopsy.<unk>  occurs twice as commonly in males as females and usually in their forties. However, online communities for<unk>  patients have yielded a stark contrast, with equal representation from both genders and members diagnosed as young as late teenage/early 20s. The disease generally affects only one of the larger weight bearing joints (hip, ankle, knee) – although the elbow, and wrist can also be affected. It rarely involves the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) and the most publications are case reports.
Synovial chondromatosis
Synovial osteochondromatosis
Osteochondroma
Tenosynovial giant cell tumor
Meniscal cyst
Myositis ossificans
Osteochondritis dissecans
Osteochondrosis