radiographic features
Last reviewed 01/2018
Early in the disease radiographs show:
- soft tissue swelling
- joint-space narrowing
- slight subchondral sclerosis
Mature lesions show:
- osteophyte formation around interphalangeal joints
- subchondral cysts
- erosions (rare) - erosions are a feature of erosive osteoarthritis
A bone scan will identify affected joints.
Large joint involvement may be observed, including:
- medial compartment of the knee
- bilateral, concentric joint-space narrowing of the hip joint (contrast this with the predominantly superior-pole disease of classic osteoarthritis)