title: Arthrography for rheumatic disease. When, why, and for whom.
abstract: The primary rheumatologic indication for an aspiration/arthrogram is the diagnosis of a septic joint. A second indication is the evaluation of a patient who has monoarticular complaints and normal plain radiographs. A third indication in patients who have known arthritis is that the contrast study can be used to evaluate the extent of cartilage destruction, identify complications that exacerbate pain, and determine if a soft tissue mass near the joint is related to the arthritis.
authors.affiliation: Cornell University Medical College, New York, New York.
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Goldman
mesh_terms: D001170:Arthritis, Infectious / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001175:Arthrography; D006801:Humans; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D013586:Synovitis, Pigmented Villonodular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014397:Tuberculosis, Pulmonary / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging