title: Pearls of the plain film.
abstract: Three case presentations from a general rheumatologic practice show the importance of the plain x-ray in making the diagnosis of arthritis. Clinical history, physical examination, and the plain x-ray are likely to provide the diagnosis most often over laboratory and more technologically advanced imaging studies for arthritis.
authors.affiliation: Cameron Medical Group, Silver Spring, MD 20910, USA.
authors.forename: T C
authors.initials: TC
authors.lastname: Lumpkins
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007405:Intervertebral Disc Displacement / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008487:Medical History Taking; D008875:Middle Aged; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D010808:Physical Examination; D011859:Radiography; D016059:Range of Motion, Articular