Anatomical features of metacarpal heads that simulate bone erosions: cadaveric study using computed tomography scanning and sectional radiography.

Objective: The objective of this study was to demonstrate the anatomical features of metacarpal heads that can simulate bone erosions.

Materials And Methods: After performing computed tomography scanning of 6 cadaveric hand specimens, normal anatomy was identified; the maximum depth, height, and area of the osseous concavities in the ulnar, radial, and intersesamoid aspects of the metacarpal heads were measured. An average value was determined for each of the measurements of the 5 fingers, and statistical analysis was done.

Early rheumatoid arthritis and its differentiation from other joint abnormalities.

The introduction of disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs has created new demands on imaging to early identify patients with rheumatoid arthritis and opened new prospects in therapeutic management of patients with aggressive disease. Therefore, new imaging modalities such as magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound have developed during the past few years in this field. In some cases, both magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasound may be also useful in making the distinction between early rheumatoid arthritis and other joints abnormalities, including early psoriatic arthritis.