Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis: Can we identify a peripheral pattern? / Hiperostosis esquelética difusa idiopática: ¿existe un patrón de predominio periférico?

Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis is a bone disease characterized by ossification of spinal ligaments and peripheral entheses. Currently, we still use the classic classification criteria that do not include extraspinal manifestations. A number of authors agree on the need to revise them. We present 3 patients in which a diagnosis of diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis could not be established if we apply those criteria, but they have fully compatible clinical and radiological manifestations of hyperostotic disease.

Classification criteria for diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis: a lack of consensus.

Objectives: DISH is a condition characterized by flowing ossifications of the spine with or without ossifications of entheses elsewhere in the body. Studies on the prevalence and pathogenesis of DISH use a variety of partly overlapping combinations of classification criteria, making meaningful comparisons across the literature difficult. The aim of this study was to systematically summarize the available criteria to support the development of a more uniform set of diagnostic/classification criteria. Methods: A search was performed in Pubmed, Embase, Cochrane Library and Web of Science using the term DISH and its synonyms. Articles were included when two independent observers agreed that the articles proposed a new set of classification criteria for DISH. All retrieved articles were evaluated for methodological quality, and the presented criteria were extracted. Results: A total of 24 articles met the inclusion criteria. In all articles, spinal hyperostosis was required for the diagnosis of DISH. Peripheral, extraspinal manifestations were included as a (co-)requirement for the diagnosis DISH in five articles. Most discrepancies revolved around the threshold for the number of vertebral bodies affected and to defining different developmental phases of DISH. More than half of the retrieved articles described a dichotomous set of criteria and did not consider the progressive character of DISH. Conclusion: This systematic review summarizes the available different classification criteria for DISH, which highlights the lack of consensus on the diagnosis of (early) DISH. Consensus criteria, including consecutive phases of new bone formation that characterize DISH, can be developed based upon established diagnostic/classification criteria.

Histological characteristics of diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis.

Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) is a predominantly radiographic diagnosis and histological knowledge of DISH is limited. The aim of this study was to describe the histological characteristics of DISH in the spinal column and to study the relation between DISH and intervertebral disc (IVD) degeneration. Therefore, 10 human cadaveric spines with fluoroscopic evidence of DISH were compared with 10 controls. Plain radiographs and computed tomography (CT) scans were obtained and tissue blocks were resected from three predefined levels of all specimens. The microscopic sections were scored by two blinded observers using a newly developed scoring system specific for characteristics of DISH and a validated scoring system for IVD degeneration. Maximum IVD height was measured on the CT scans. Analyses were performed using Fisher's exact test and Student's t-test. When compared to controls, the right sided sections from DISH specimens showed partial or complete bone bridges, consisting of cortical woven bone, accompanied by morphological changes in the adjoining part of the IVD. Using the histological scoring system for DISH, all parameters were significantly different between the DISH and control group (p < 0.01). The contralateral location did not show differences between the groups. The overall degree of IVD degeneration and height of IVD was comparable for the two groups. The histopathological changes observed in spines with DISH corresponded to the fluoroscopic images and CT scans. The degree of IVD degeneration and IVD height was comparable for both groups, suggesting a limited role for IVD degeneration in the pathogenesis of DISH. © 2016 Orthopaedic Research Society. Published by Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Orthop Res 35:140-146, 2017.

Developing new classification criteria for diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis: back to square one.

OBJECTIVE: To revise the definition of DISH and suggest a classification that may better represent our current knowledge of this entity allowing earlier diagnosis. METHODS: Seven rheumatologists and an orthopaedic surgeon suggested a list of 63 parameters that might be included in a future classification of DISH. Participants rated their level of agreement with each item, expressed in percentages. In a second session, participants discussed each item again and re-rated all parameters. Thirty items that were granted ≥50% support on average were considered valid for a third round. A questionnaire listing these 30 items was mailed to 39 rheumatologists and orthopaedic surgeons worldwide with a request to answer categorically if they agreed on an item to be included as a criterion for a future classification of DISH. Items were regarded as perfect consensus when at least 95% of the respondents agreed and were regarded as consensus when at least 80% agreed. RESULTS: There was perfect consensus for 2 (6.7%) of the 30 parameters and consensus for another 2 parameters. These items were ossification and bridging osteophytes in each of the three segments of the spine and exuberant bone formation of bone margins. CONCLUSION: At present there is no agreement about the inclusion of extraspinal, constitutional and metabolic manifestations in a new classification of DISH. Investigators with an interest in this condition should be encouraged to restructure the term DISH in an attempt to establish a more sophisticated definition.

Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) of the shoulder. A controlled radiological study.

The prevalence of hyperostotic spurs (HS) in different areas of the shoulder was studied in 36 probands with and 58 probands without thoracospinal hyperostosis on lateral chest radiographs. Bilateral shoulder radiographs in three projections were analysed blindly, recording the presence of HS at six separate sites (glenoid, greater tuberculum, acromion, acromioclavicular joint, coracoid and humeral shaft) and applying defined grading criteria. The prevalence of HS ranged from 11.7% of the shoulders at the coracoid to 50.0% at the glenoid. The prevalence of HS was similar on both sides [right, 30.1% of the sites versus left, 27.0%, relative risk (RR) 1.12 (95% confidence interval [Cl] 0.93-1.35)] and was not related to sex and history of work. Classification for the presence of shoulder hyperostosis was identical on both sides with the exception of one individual. In probands with thoracospinal and shoulder hyperostosis all areas analysed contributed to the classification. However, this was particularly prominent at the humeral shaft [RR 5.3 (95% Cl 2.1-13.0)] and the coracoid [RR 8.4 (95% Cl 1.9-36.4)]. These results indicated that the prevalence of HS and the specificity for the presence of diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) vary between different sites. We suggest that future grading criteria for shoulder hyperostosis take into account the localization of HS, in addition to their number and size.

[Sternocostoclavicular hyperostosis. Nosological concepts]. / Les hyperostoses sterno-costo-claviculaires. Conceptions nosologiques.

The term sternocostoclavicular hyperostosis groups affections of different pathogenicity. These result from an ossifying enthesiopathy, either inflammatory, isolated to the thoracic wall anteriorly or combined with a spondylarthropathy, particularly ankylosing spondylitis, or degenerative, the anterior thoracic hyperostosis usually being part of an ensheathing vertebral hyperostosis. A differential diagnosis is anterior thoracic hyperostosis due to an inflammatory osteopathy occurring in young patients and often associated with other bone lesions of pelvis and spine or long bones.