Definition of chondrocalcinosis is "pathologically or radiologically evident cartilage calcification." In various studies involving both autopsy and radiological surveys, the frequency of chondrocalcinosis ranges from as low as 0.42% (retrospective study of conventional x-rays in a wide age range of patients) to as high as 30% (autopsy and surgical specimens of elderly patients).

There are many conditions associated with chondrocalcinosis. Other than the idiopathic calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate deposition disease, those that have a high probability of association are:
   1) primary hyperparathyroidism
   2) hemosiderosis/hemochromatosis
   3) gout
   4) familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia
   5) hypophosphatemia
   6) hypomagnesemia
   7) Bartter's syndrome
   8) hypothyroidism
   9) neuropathic osteoarthropathy
   10) amyloidosis
   11) trauma
   12) corticosteroid therapy (long-term)
   13) aging
of these, the top three diagnoses that should be mentioned along with the idiopathic variety should be: primary hyperparathyroidism, hemosiderosis/hemochromatosis, and gout. Frequency of hyperparathyroidism in patients with chondrocalcinosis has been reported from 0-15%, and frequency of chondrocalcinosis in patients with hyperparathyroidism has been reported to be 18-40%. Frequency of chondrocalcinosis in patients with hemochromatosis has been reported to be 41%.