Pencil-in-cup deformity
Last revised by Evangeline Collins
on 30 Aug 2024
Citation, DOI, disclosures and article data
Citation:
Bickle I, Collins E, Feger J, et al. Pencil-in-cup deformity. Reference article, Radiopaedia.org (Accessed on 29 Mar 2025) https://doi.org/10.53347/rID-33943
rID:
33943
Article created:
Disclosures:
At the time the article was created Ian Bickle had no recorded disclosures.
View Ian Bickle's current disclosures
Last revised:
30 Aug 2024,
Evangeline Collins
Disclosures:
At the time the article was last revised Evangeline Collins had no financial relationships to ineligible companies to disclose.
View Evangeline Collins's current disclosures
Revisions:
16 times, by
10 contributors -
see full revision history and disclosures
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Synonyms:
- Pencil in cup
- Pencil in a cup
Pencil-in-cup deformity is the description given to one of the appearances on plain radiographs classically associated with psoriatic arthritis; however, it is not pathognomonic.
Radiographic features
The appearance results from periarticular erosions and bone resorption giving the appearance of a pencil in a cup.
Differential diagnosis
Although classically described with psoriatic arthritis, this appearance can also be seen in:
- systemic sclerosis 2
- rheumatoid arthritis
- reactive arthritis
- Behçet disease: case reports 3
References
- 1. Siannis F, Farewell VT, Cook RJ, et al. Clinical and radiological damage in psoriatic arthritis. Annals of the rheumatic diseases. 65 (4): 478-81. doi:10.1136/ard.2005.039826 - Pubmed
- 2. S. Ramakrishnan, S. K. Das, K. Mishra; Systemic sclerosis with pencil‐in‐cup deformity, Rheumatology, Volume 40, Issue 5, 1 May 2001, Pages 594–595, doi.org/10.1093/rheumatology/40.5.594
- 3. Tan J, Göğüş F, Sepici V. 'Pencil-in-cup' deformity in Behçet's disease. (1993) British journal of rheumatology. 32 (7): 644-5. doi:10.1093/rheumatology/32.7.644-a - Pubmed
Incoming Links
Articles:
Cases:
- Psoriatic arthritis - foot
- Psoriatic arthritis of the foot
- Pencil-in-cup deformity - rheumatoid arthritis
- Pencil-in-cup deformity (illustrations)
- Psoriatic arthritis with bilateral capitohamate coalition
- Psoriatic arthritis
- Psoaritic arthritis
- Psoriatic arthritis of the hands and feet
- Psoriatic arthritis
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