[3] When symptomatic, the disease classically begins with symptoms that are similar to a gout attack (thus the moniker pseudogout).

Overexertion of any exercise, standing too long, shopping, stressful or loud environments, can or may lead to severe flares, which can last from one hour to months.

X-ray, CT, or other imaging usually shows accumulation of calcium within the joint cartilage, known as chondrocalcinosis.

[7] The gene ANKH is involved in crystal-related inflammatory reactions and inorganic phosphate transport.

[citation needed] Medical imaging, consisting of x-ray, CT, MRI, or ultrasound may detect chondrocalcinosis within the affected joint, indicating a substantial amount of calcium crystal deposition within the cartilage or ligaments.

[8] Using ultrasound, chondrocalcinosis may be depicted as echogenic foci with no acoustic shadow within the hyaline cartilage[9] or fibrocartilage.

[5] CPPD is estimated to affect 4% to 7% of the adult populations of Europe and the United States.

[4] Women are at a slightly higher risk than men, with an estimated ratio of occurrence of 1.4:1.

[13] A task force of the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) made recommendations on preferred terminology.

[6] Accordingly, calcium pyrophosphate deposition (CPPD) is an umbrella term for the various clinical subsets, whose naming reflects an emphasis on particular features.

Chondrocalcinosis,[2][4] on the other hand, refers to the radiographic evidence of calcification in hyaline and/or fibrocartilage.