[Cardinal radiological signs of the most important rheumatic diseases of joints in adults (author's transl)].

The assessment of roentgenograms in rheumatology is frequently complicated because all forms of the disease have lesions of connective tissue structures in common. A reliable classification of a particular rheumatic disease is sometimes only possible on the basis of repeated examination during the course of the disease. Certain cardinal radiological signs are useful aids to diagnosis. Thus arthritis is characterized by concentric reductions in the height of the joint cavity and the bone lesion, arthrosis by excentric reduction of height and osteophytes. Special pointers to rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis, the degenerative diseases, ankylosing spondylitis and related diseases are given.