title: A follow-up study of the earliest radiological changes in rheumatoid polyarthritis.
abstract: After more than 20 years devoted to the search for the earliest demonstrable radiological signs in polyarthritis, the author now offers proof that the very faint and tiny juxta-articular erosions described for the first time in 1963 (Nørgaard, 1963) are the earliest positive signs of rheumatoid polyarthritis. In the follow-up study of 153 cases which showed these fine erosions on the initial X-ray examination, 148 have subsequently had proven polyarthritis confirmed by clinical or radiological methods or both. The fate of the other five is discussed.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D005260:Female; D005384:Finger Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D013997:Time Factors; D014033:Toe Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014955:Wrist Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging