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Greater trochanteric pain syndrome — SCE Rheumatology MCQ

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EasyOsteoarthritis and Soft Tissue RheumatologyGreater trochanteric pain syndromeSCE Rheumatology

A 72-year-old woman has lateral hip pain worse lying on the affected side, focal greater trochanter tenderness and full painless internal hip rotation. What is the most likely diagnosis?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

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Correct answer: D — Greater trochanteric pain syndrome

Greater trochanteric pain syndrome is the single best answer because lateral tenderness with preserved hip rotation suggests greater trochanteric pain syndrome. The stem is testing diagnostic synthesis, not isolated recall, so the relevant clinical pattern and risk context determine the answer. Rheumatoid arthritis is less suitable because it fits a different clinical pattern or a different treatment threshold; Systemic lupus erythematosus, Psoriatic arthritis and Gout do not address the key discriminator in this vignette. Clinical pearl: in SCE-style rheumatology questions, autoantibodies, imaging and synovial fluid findings should be interpreted with the whole phenotype.

Reference: NICE NG226; NICE CKS soft tissue rheumatology