What causes ring-around-artery sign in hands on hand radiographs?
Let me know in the comments.
Click to reveal the answer
Answer:
Peri-arterial calcification manifesting as circumferential calcific rings around radial and digital arteries in primary hyperparathyroidism or longstanding diabetes mellitus.
This finding is known as the ring-around-artery sign on hand radiographs.
Why is it called so?
The name describes the ring-like calcification encircling the artery, resembling a halo or ring around the vessel lumen on radiography.
Pathophysiology
In primary hyperparathyroidism, excess parathyroid hormone induces hypercalcemia and metastatic calcification due to elevated calcium-phosphate product; in diabetes, chronic hyperglycemia promotes medial vascular calcification via advanced glycation end-products and osteogenic transdifferentiation of smooth muscle cells, leading to peri-arterial deposition visible on plain films.
Access all radiology signs posted so far: https://radiogyan.com/radiology-signs/
Improve Content And Help Your Colleagues!
Found an error in the post? Please let us know using our contact page and we will update it with due credits!
If you wish to contribute radiological images for this case (or any other article on the website), you can submit them here and you will be duly credited: Submit radiology case