Health Dictionary
Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.
Bouchard's nodes
Introduction
Overview
Overview
Bouchard’s nodes are hard, bony outgrowths or gelatinous cysts on the proximal interphalangeal joints (the middle joints of fingers or toes.) They are a sign of osteoarthritis, and are caused by formation of calcific spurs of the articular (joint) cartilage.
Bouchard’s nodes are comparable in presentation to Heberden’s nodes, similar osteoarthritic growths on the distal interphalangeal joints, but are significantly less common.
Eponym
Eponym
Bouchard’s nodes are named after French pathologist Charles-Joseph Bouchard (1837-1915).[1]
Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] Cafer Zorkun, M.D., Ph.D. [2]