Radiological aspects of psoriatic osteoarthropathia

Psoriatic osteoarthropathia is a disease of the joints, spine, and bones. It belongs to the category of ''seronegative spondarthritis'', the prototype of which is ankylosing spondylitis. Contrary to earlier assumptions, morphological changes in the X-ray picture are frequent if the joints (psoriatic arthritis) or axial skeleton (psoriatic spondylitis) are affected. Radiographic signs are listed and scintigraphic findings discussed. The morphological changes in the X-ray picture are characteristic, even without psoriatic lesions of the skin. Sacro-iliac changes in the axial skeleton are frequent. In other parts of the skeleton, typical parasyndesmophytes are slightly less frequent, and changes as in ankylosing spondylitis may occur. The diagnosis is easier with whole-body scintiscanning as this technique is able to detect early changes which are not noticeable clinically or radiologically. (orig.)