[Anterior chest wall examination reviewed]

Reumatismo. 2002;54(1):52-8. doi: 10.4081/reumatismo.2002.52.
[Article in Italian]

Abstract

Anterior chest wall involvement is not infrequently observed within inflammatory arthropaties, particularly if one considers seronegative spondyloarthritides and SAPHO syndrome. Physical examination is unreliable and conventional X-rays analysis is an unsatisfactory tool during diagnostic work-up of this region. Scintigraphic techniques yield informations both on the activity and on the anatomical extent of the disease while computerized tomography visualize the elementary lesions, such as erosions, which characterize the process. Moreover, when available, magnetic resonance imaging couple the ability to finely visualize such lesions with the possibility to show early alterations and to characterize the "activity" of the disease, presenting itself as a powerful tool both for diagnosis and follow-up. This review briefly shows the applications of imaging techniques for the evaluation of the anterior chest wall focusing on what has been done in the SAPHO syndrome which can be considered prototypical for this regional involvement since it is the osteo-articular target mainly affected by the disease.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Acquired Hyperostosis Syndrome / diagnosis
  • Acquired Hyperostosis Syndrome / diagnostic imaging
  • Chest Pain / diagnosis
  • Chest Pain / etiology
  • Humans
  • Joint Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Joint Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Physical Examination
  • Radiography, Thoracic / methods
  • Radionuclide Imaging
  • Rheumatic Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Rheumatic Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Sternoclavicular Joint
  • Sternocostal Joints
  • Thoracic Diseases / diagnosis*
  • Thoracic Diseases / diagnostic imaging
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed