Computed tomography of the normal sternoclavicular joint.

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this work was to establish a reference population for the study of the sternoclavicular joint (SCJ).

DESIGN

A prospective study of the SCJ was carried out by high-resolution computed tomography (CT). CT images were read by two radiologists and two rheumatologists using a pre-established grid (27 elementary signs).

PATIENTS

Sixty healthy subjects, homogeneously distributed by sex and decade of life, from 20 to 80 years old, were studied.

RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS

The main results were the following: 98% of healthy subjects presented at least one sign; mean number of signs per subject was 2.4 +/- 1.9; mean number of signs was higher ( P < 0.005) in men (mean = 3.1 +/- 2.1) than in women (mean = 1.7 +/- 1.3); number of signs increased with age (P < 0.001). Some signs were very frequent: "ossification of the first costal cartilage" (88%), "Surrounded subchondral clavicular erosion" (27%). Some signs were significantly more frequent in the elderly: "sternal osteophyte" after the age of 70 (P < 0.01) and "meniscal calcification" (P < 0.01) and "sternal subchondral sclerosis" (P < 0.05) after the age of 60. The number of clavicular signs was greater than that of sternal signs (P < 0.001). These results can be used as references for the study of the SCJ.