title: Plain-film diagnosis of joint disease.
abstract: The authors describe a systematic approach to plain-film diagnosis of joint disease. The major radiologic criteria--soft-tissue swelling, joint-space narrowing, bone erosion, bone sclerosis and osteophytosis, and chondrocalcinosis--are considered first. Assessing the involvement of the minor criteria of joint disease--soft-tissue atrophy or calcification, malalignment, osteoporosis, abnormal growth, intra-articular bony ankylosis, bone fragmentation, periostitis, subperiosteal resorption or acro-osteolysis--narrows the probabilities to the more likely diagnoses. Further analysis includes the distribution of joint injury, whether mono- or polyarticular, symmetrical or asymmetrical. Added to clinical information, this approach leads to a specific or refined differential diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Hôtel-Dieu de Montréal, Université de Montréal, Que.
authors.forename: R G
authors.initials: RG
authors.lastname: Dussault
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Samson
authors.forename: M T
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Fortin
mesh_terms: D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D007592:Joint Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008722:Methods; D011859:Radiography; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging