Finger clubbing

Finger clubbing, also called "drumstick fingers", is a common clinical sign in patients with heart or lung disease. The term is used to describe an enlargement of the distal phalanges of the fingers, giving them a drumstick or club-like appearance. 

Pathology

The underlying pathogenesis of finger clubbing is unknown.

Associations

Finger clubbing is associated with a long list of chronic cardiopulmonary and GI diseases including ¹:

• pulmonary disease
  • lung cancer
    • usually non-small cell carcinoma
  • mesothelioma
  • idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis
  • chronic suppurative pulmonary diseases
    • bronchiectasis
    • empyema
    • lung abscess
    • cystic fibrosis
• cardiac disease
  • long-standing cyanotic congenital heart disease
  • atrial myxoma
  • infective endocarditis
• GI disease
  • inflammatory bowel disease, especially Crohn disease
  • cirrhosis
  • GI lymphoma
  • coeliac disease
• others
  • thyrotoxicosis (i.e. thyroid acropachy)
  • familial - generally pre-pubescent