title: Radiographic evaluation of arthritis: degenerative joint disease and variations.
abstract: In the presence of joint space narrowing, it is important to differentiate inflammatory from degenerative conditions. The presence of osteophytes, bone sclerosis, and subchondral cysts and the absence of inflammatory features such as erosions suggest osteoarthritis. Typical osteoarthritis involves specific joints at a particular patient age. When osteoarthritis involves an atypical joint, occurs at an early age, or has an unusual radiographic appearance, then other causes for cartilage destruction should be considered, such as trauma, crystal deposition, neuropathic joint, and hemophilia. There are several types of arthritis, such as juvenile chronic arthritis and gouty arthritis, that may have a variable appearance compared with that of other common inflammatory arthritides.
authors: Department of Radiology, University of Michigan Medical Center, 1500 E Medical Center Dr, TC-2910L, Ann Arbor, MI 48109-0326, USA. jjacobsn@umich.edu
authors: Jon A
authors: JA
authors: Jacobson
authors: Gandikota
authors: G
authors: Girish
authors: Yebin
authors: Y
authors: Jiang
authors: Brian J
authors: BJ
authors: Sabb
mesh_terms: D001168:Arthritis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001175:Arthrography / Q000379:methods*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D019636:Neurodegenerative Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*