Clinics in Orthopedic Surgery  2016;8(3):330-332

doi:10.4055/cios.2016.8.3.330

Intra-Articular Pigmentation of Synovium: An Unusual Cause.

Shobhit VERMA 1 ; Steven HAMILTON ; Sue M LIEW

Affiliations

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Keywords

Knee; Arthroscopy; Synovium; Pigmentation; Articular

Country

Republic of Korea

Language

English

Abstract

An unusual grayish brown discoloration of the synovium was found during a knee arthroscopy of a 72-year-old man. He also had similar pigmentation affecting the skin on the legs, arms, hands, and face. It was found he had been taking 400 mg of amiodarone hydrochloride daily for last 7 years. Amiodarone is known to cause a slate grey pigmentation of skin and cornea, but we believe this is the first report of amiodarone-induced pigmentation of the synovium. The arthroscopist should be aware of the possibility of drug-related synovial pigmentation and include this in differential diagnosis.