160 



R. Lagier, C. a. Baud, M. Buchs 



osteochondrosis dissecans. In six specimens apatite alone was found in calcifications 

 of intervertebral discs; they occurred in two spines containing discal deposits of 

 calcium pyrophosphate in other locations. Nevertheless, in those patients showing 



Table 3. Cases in ic'hich the patient presented with chondrocalcinosis articularis. According to 



their site, the calcareous deposits consisted either of apatite (A), calcium pyrophosphate 



dihvdrate (P), or a mixture of the two in a single sample (A + P). (As in the preceding tables, 



the type of calcium deposit is indicated by + in the corresponding column) 



No. of 

 cases 



No. of 

 samplps 



signs of primary chondrocalcinosis, different extra-articular calcifications were, as 

 usual, apatite. 



The same findings were made in two other forms of chondrocalcinosis. In one 

 of these calcium pyrophosphate was found on the synovial membrane and cartilage 

 of a knee, in a case of primary hyperparathyroidism which had undergone success- 

 ful surgical removal of a parathyroid adenoma several years before. Unfortunately 

 it was not possible to explore the extra-articular calcification in this case; how- 

 ever, in another case of von Recklinghausen's disease the examination of an 

 atheromatous plaque revealed evidence of apatite. 



The other was a case of gout, secondary to polycythemia vera and associated with 

 osteomalacia. This diagnosis was confirmed by X-ray diffraction which showed the 

 presence of sodium urate monohydrate deposits. Radiographs revealed signs of 

 chondrocalcinosis of knee menisci and systematic post-mortem examination permitted 

 the collection of two samples of calcareous deposits found in intervertebral discs. 



