PROSPECTIVE-STUDY OF ANTERIOR CHEST-WALL INVOLVEMENT IN ANKYLOSING-SPONDYLITIS AND PSORIATIC-ARTHRITIS

A prospective study of anterior chest wall involvement was conducted i n 50 ankylosing spondylitis patients and 50 psoriatic arthritis patien ts in the absence of palmoplantar pustulosis. All patients underwent a physical examination, tomograms, and a radionuclide bone scan. Magnet ic resonance imaging with gadolinium was done in some cases. Half the patients in both groups had anterior chest wall involvement. Enthesiti s was the mechanism of the lesions. The manubriosternal symphysis and sternocostoclavicular joints were the most common sites of involvement , although other entheses in the region were affected in some patients .