[Enthesopathies. Radiography and xeroradiography compared].

The term "enthesis" designates the sites of tendon, ligament and articular capsule insertion to bone. Entheses are fundamental to the cybernetic regulation and correlation of postural and motion functions in the body. They also hold a key position in the locomotor system diseases. "Enthesopathy" is a disease occurring at these sites (primary enthesopathy), which can occur alone or together with different disorders, including inflammatory, degenerative, metabolic and traumatic conditions (secondary enthesopathy). Enthesopathy may lead to articular and non-articular manifestations: common sites of involvement include the spine and pelvis, femoral trochanter, humeral tuberosity, patella, olecranon and calcaneus. In acute enthesopathy, all the signs of acute inflammation may be present. In subacute or chronic forms, pain and tenderness localized in the entheses are found. Radiographic patterns include bone erosion, hyperostosis (enthesophytes), bone fragmentation and crystal deposits.