CTICasesGold Thread Acupuncture
Imaging findings
Radiographs of the hand and wrist from a New England Journal case report demonstrate countless, tiny, linear radiopaque metallic needle fragments embedded in the subcutaneous and deep soft tissues of both wrists and hands. The fragments are concentrated around the wrist, metacarpophalangeal, and proximal interphalangeal joints in a patient with a history of rheumatoid arthritis.
Key takeaways
Gold thread acupuncture (or 'harisu') is a traditional eastern medicine practice where small pieces of sterile gold wire are inserted and left permanently in the soft tissues around joints to treat chronic pain or arthritis. On radiographs, these appear as numerous small, linear metallic densities. While usually asymptomatic, they can occasionally migrate, cause localized foreign body reaction, or pose a diagnostic challenge on radiographs and MRI.
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