Enthesial fibrocartilage - bone interaction: a radiographic study of selected sites of nonsynovial peripheral enthesopathy.

Objectives: To assess radiological imaging and prevalence of pelvic (excluding sacroiliac joints), calcaneal, patellar and humeral enthesopathy (EN) in a cohort study.

Materials-methods: Outpatients attending a state hospital rheumatology clinic for a continuous 4-year period, were consecutively screened for radiographic evidence of peripheral nonsynovial EN in pelvis, ankle, knee and shoulder regions and in particular sites within these regions regardless of symptoms. Imaging and prevalence were assessed in patients suffering from a variety of myoskeletal disorders by applying either of the following two plain X-ray criteria: a) tendon and/or ligament and/or fascia ossification, b) reactive bone proliferation resulting in excrescences and/or sclerosis and/or erosions.