Soft tissue changes in early rheumatoid arthritis as seen on xeroradiography and non-screen radiographs.

Forty-seven patients with early or newly established rheumatoid arthritis were studied with non-screen radiography and xerography. Estimations of soft tissue swelling, bone erosion and cysts were made by two observers and the results compared between observers and the two types of imaging. The results indicate no significant advantage or disadvantage in xerographic imaging compared with non-screen radiographs in the identification of superficial soft tissue swelling and bone erosions. More cysts were, however, identified on the radiographs. In a previous anatomical study of the dissected hand, xerography showed definite advantages in the detection of certain features.