This document discusses diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH), also known as Forestier's disease. It most commonly affects the elderly, especially between the ages of 60-70. Key features include bone proliferation at sites of tendon and ligament insertion, especially along the spine. Pathology involves calcification and ossification of spinal ligaments. Extra spinal features can include enthesopathy of bones like the iliac crest and greater trochanters. DISH is characterized by flowing ossification along at least four contiguous vertebrae that preserves disc spaces and can result in ankylosis.

1. Diffuse idiopathic skeletal
hyperostosis
Vinod Naneria
Girish Yeotikar
Arjun Wadhwani
Choithram Hospital & Research Centre,
Indore, India

2. DISH
• Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis
or Forestier disease is a common condition
characterized by bone proliferation at sites of
tendinous and ligamentous insertion.
• Epidemiology
• It most commonly affects the elderly
(especially 6th to 7th decades).
• Its estimated frequency in the elderly is at ~ 5-
15%

3. Pathology
• Pathologic features of spinal DISH include:
• Focal and diffuse calcification and ossification of the
anterior longitudinal ligament,
• Paraspinal connective tissue and annulus fibrosis,
• Degeneration in the peripheral annulus fibrosis fibers,
• Anterolateral extensions of fibrous tissue,
• Hypervascularity,
• Chronic inflammatory cellular infiltration,
• Periosteal new bone formation on the anterior surface
of the vertebral bodies.

4. Associations
• Ossification of the posterior longitudinal
ligament (OPLL)
• Hyperglycaemia.
• Approximately one-third of patients test
positive for human leukocyte antigen
(HLA)B27.

5. Spinal features:
• Florid, flowing ossification along the anterior
or right anterolateral aspects of at
least four contiguous vertebrae.
• Disc spaces are usually well preserved.
• Ankylosis is more commonly seen in the
thoracic than in the cervical or lumbar spine.
Frequently incomplete can have interdigitating
areas of protruding disk material in the
flowing ossifications.

6. Extra spinal features
• Enthesopathy of:
• iliac crest,
• ischial tuberosities,
• greater trochanters,
• spur formation in the appendicular skeleton
(olecranon, calcaneum).

7. Dr Noyan ZengerDr Andrew Ho & Dr Radswiki .

8. Dr Andrew Ho

9. DISH

10. DISH

11. DISH

12. DISH

14. Ankylosing Spondylitis – Radiological
features
• early spondylitis is characterized by small erosions at
the corners of vertebral bodies with reactive sclerosis
• squaring of the vertebral body
• diffuse syndesmophyitic ankylosis can give a "bamboo
spine" appearance
• interspinous ligament calcification can give a "dagger
spine" appearance
• ossification of spinal ligaments, joints and discs.
• Psuedoarthroses may form at fracture sites.
• enthesophyte formation from enthesopathy.
• Romanus lesions of the spine - shiny corner sign.

15. Ankylosing spondylitis

16. Ankylosing spondylitis

17. Fluorosis - radiological features:
• The earliest radiological findings appear within six
mouths of continuous exposure to high intakes of
fluoride and include periosteal and endosteal
reactions, coarse axial trabcculations and osteopenia in
the metaphyseal regions, sclerosis, and modelling
abnormalities of the epiphyses, carpal and other bones
of the hand, more particularly observed in growing
children.
• The incidence of spinal osteoporosis is significantly low
and of osteomalacia and secondary hyperparathyroid
bone disease significantly higher in women residing in
endemic fluorosis villages.

18. Fluorosis

19. Fluorosis

20. Paget’s disease – Spine Radiology
• Spine: cortical thickening encasing the vertebral
margins, which gives rise to the picture frame sign on
radiographs in mixed phase disease.
• On lateral radiographs flattening or squaring of the
normal concavity of the anterior margin of the
vertebral body also adds to the rectangular
appearance.
• The osteoblastic activity is seen along all four margins
of the vertebral body cortices.
• The vertical trabecular thickening pattern in Paget
disease is coarser than the more delicate pattern seen
in hemangiomas with which it can be confused.

21. Paget’s disease – Radiology Pelvis
• Paget disease of the pelvis usually manifests
with cortical thickening and sclerosis of the
iliopectineal and ischiopubic lines. These
findings are often asymmetric and for some
reason, may be more commonly seen on the
right side. Enlargement of the pubic rami and
ischium are also often seen.

22. Paget

23. Paget

24. Paget

25. Paget

26. Osteopetrosis
• X-ray findingsDiffuse osteosclerosis
• Cortical thickening with medullary encroachment
• Erlenmeyer flask deformity = clublike long bones due
to lack of tubulization + flaring of ends
• Bone-within-bone appearance
• "Sandwich" vertebrae=alternating sclerotic +
radiolucent transverse metaphyseal lines (phalanges,
iliac bones) indicate fluctuating course of disease
• Longitudinal metaphyseal striations
• Mandible least involved

27. Osteopatrosis

29. DISCLAIMER
Information contained and transmitted by this presentation is
based on personal experience and collection of cases at
Choithram Hospital & Research centre, Indore, India.
Some of the representative x-rays and relevant text is taken
from Radiopaedia.org
It is intended for use only by the students of orthopaedic
surgery. Views and opinion expressed in this presentation are
personal opinion. Depending upon the x-rays and clinical
presentations viewers can make their own opinion. For any
confusion please contact the sole author for clarification.
Every body is allowed to copy or download and use the
material best suited to him. I am not responsible for any
controversies arise out of this presentation. For any
correction or suggestion please contact naneria@yahoo.com