title: The coexistence of ankylosing spondylitis and diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis--a postmortem diagnosis.
abstract: A 72-year-old male was diagnosed as having ankylosing spondylitis, mainly according to radiological findings, confirmed as HLA-B27-negative. Postmortem examination of the skeleton raised doubts on the initial diagnosis, since spinal findings pointed out also to diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis. The authors discuss the differential diagnosis and enhance the postmortem findings which allowed the diagnosis of the two clinical entities in the same patient.
authors.affiliation: Research Centre in Natural Resources (CIRN) and Department of Biology, Universidade dos Açores, S. Miguel, Azores, Portugal.
authors.forename: Xavier
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Jordana
authors.forename: Ignasi
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Galtés
authors.forename: Ana Rita
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Couto
authors.forename: Luís
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Gales
authors.forename: Margarida
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Damas
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.forename: Jácome
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Bruges-Armas
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D002805:Chondrocalcinosis / Q000175:diagnosis; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D017809:Fatal Outcome; D015796:HLA-B27 Antigen / Q000276:immunology; D006801:Humans; D004057:Hyperostosis, Diffuse Idiopathic Skeletal / Q000150:complications* / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D011859:Radiography; D013167:Spondylitis, Ankylosing / Q000150:complications* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D015796:HLA-B27 Antigen