The sparsity of publication concerning CT findings of tuberculous arthritis prompted authors to retrospectively evaluate 12 patients with tuberculous arthritis for characteristic CT findings. In each patient, the diagnosis of tuberculous
arthritis
was
confirmed by surgery or biopsy. The CT examinations were evaluated by two radiologists retrospectively. Involved joints were the hip joint in seven patients, the sacroiliac joint in three parients, and the shoulder and ankle joint in one patients
each.
CT features included subchondral bony erosion(12 patients), soft tissue mass in the joint space(nine), widenining of the joint space(eight), ipsilateral muscle atrophy(eight), thickening of the joint capsule(seven), intra-articular effusion(six),
soft
tissue abscess(five),and bony sclerosis(four). In seven patients with the duration of symptoms less than 1 year, thickening of joint capsule and intra-articular effusion were the predominent findings, while bony sclerosis, gross bone destruction,
and
soft tissue mass in joint space were seen in five patients with the duration of symptoms longer than 1 year.
Our results indicate that CT is useful in the diagnosis of tuberculous arthritis by demonstrating characteristic pathologic changes of the joint space, soft tissue abnormality and bony involvement.
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