Transient erosion of the ulnar styloid process.
A patient with polyarthritis had radiographs of the wrists taken at presentation and again at 6 months. At presentation radiographs were normal, but repeat X-rays at 6 months showed complete erosion of both ulnar styloid processes. This did not correlate with the clinical picture of a mild synovitis. A third X-ray showed normal wrists, revealing the cause to be a positional artefact during the X-ray procedure. Clinicians should be aware of this 'catch'.
Merry
P
P
Department of Rheumatology, Charing Cross Hospital, London.
Shattles
W
W
Scott
T
T
D001168:Arthritis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D016477:Artifacts; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D014457:Ulna / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*