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Health Dictionary

Reliable, easy-to-read patient information on common medical conditions — written in plain language, free of jargon, and grounded in current evidence. Browse the most frequent diagnoses, understand what they mean for everyday life, and learn which steps and questions help you have a focused conversation with your doctor.

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Ankylosing spondylitis x ray

Introduction

Overview

Overview

An x-ray may be helpful in the diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis (AS). Findings on an x-ray suggestive of ankylosing spondylitis (AS) include erosion and ankylosis of the sacroiliac joints.

X Ray

X Ray

A standard anteroposterior (AP) plain x-ray of the pelvis helps in recognizing the AS.
Findings on an x-ray suggestive of/diagnostic of ankylosing spondylitis(AS) include^[1]^[2]^[3]
- Erosions
- Ankylosis
- Changes in joint width
- Sclerosis
Fusion and large erosions more obvious as the disease becomes more advanced.
With the severity in x-ray hip involvement we can correlates the severity of the spinal disease.^[4]

Lateral Xray of neck showing complete fusion of anterior and posterior elements in ankylosing spondylitis, so called bamboo spine. Source: Case courtesy of A.Prof Frank Gaillard, From the case <a href=”https://radiopaedia.org/cases/2912“>rID: 2912</a>

Ankylosing spondylitis DAGGER SPINE

X-ray Ap view of spine showing fusion of the spinous processes, so called dagger sign in AS Case courtesy of A.Prof Frank Gaillard, From the case <a href=”https://radiopaedia.org/cases/3382“>rID: 3382</a>

References

References

↑ Jang JH, Ward MM, Rucker AN, Reveille JD, Davis JC, Weisman MH, Learch TJ (January 2011). “Ankylosing spondylitis: patterns of radiographic involvement–a re-examination of accepted principles in a cohort of 769 patients”. Radiology. 258 (1): 192–8. doi:10.1148/radiol.10100426. PMC 3009382. PMID 20971774.
↑ Poddubnyy D, Brandt H, Vahldiek J, Spiller I, Song IH, Rudwaleit M, Sieper J (December 2012). “The frequency of non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis in relation to symptom duration in patients referred because of chronic back pain: results from the Berlin early spondyloarthritis clinic”. Ann. Rheum. Dis. 71 (12): 1998–2001. doi:10.1136/annrheumdis-2012-201945. PMID 22915622.
↑ Ostergaard M, Lambert RG (August 2012). “Imaging in ankylosing spondylitis”. Ther Adv Musculoskelet Dis. 4 (4): 301–11. doi:10.1177/1759720X11436240. PMC 3403247. PMID 22859929.
↑ Baraliakos X, Braun J (January 2010). “Hip involvement in ankylosing spondylitis: what is the verdict?”. Rheumatology (Oxford). 49 (1): 3–4. doi:10.1093/rheumatology/kep298. PMID 19755506.

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1] ; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: Manpreet Kaur, MD [2]