What Is Psoriatic Arthritis?
7. Radiographic Findings
Radiological features generally show mild erosive disease. In psoriatic arthritis, changes in the joints are usually asymmetrical and they are mostly located in the small joints of the feet and hands. Unfortunately, erosive disease may result in the deformation of the joint. In the case of arthritis mutilans, a classic finding on X-ray is the “pencil-in-cup deformity”. Usually, a tiny bone of the finger is eroded into a pencil shape, which turns causes the adjoining bone to acquire a cup shape. Additionally, narrowing of the joint spaces of the finger joints can also be observed.
CT and MRI scans can be useful in detecting early changes in the joints. An MRI may show inflammation in the ligaments and soft tissues around the affected joint. Ultrasonography is used by some to diagnose, predict disease progression, predict prognosis, and monitoring of the disease.
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