Plain film radiography is often the first imaging modality employed in the assessment of patients with a rheumatological condition. More recently this has been superseded by cross-sectional imaging, in particular ultrasound and MRI, which have improved sensitivity in detection of early disease when compared with plain film imaging. However, there remains a role for conventional radiography in both the initial diagnosis and monitoring of disease progression. A standard approach to assessing radiographs in the context of arthropathy is usually employed by radiologists; by following this structured review a diagnosis or narrow differential may be reached on plain film imaging alone. Plain film radiograph findings of the most common rheumatological disorders are covered in detail in this chapter including osteoarthritis, the inflammatory arthritides, and crystal arthropathy. Findings in the connective tissue disorders are then covered, followed by less commonly encountered conditions such as SAPHO, neuropathic arthropathy, and haemochromotosis.
Conventional radiography and cross-sectional imaging when planning dental implants in the anterior edentulous mandible to support an overdenture: a systematic review
