Clinical/methodical issue: Establishing an early and reliable diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is of major importance but can be a great clinical challenge leading to direct therapeutic consequences. No single epidemiological, genetic, clinical, serological or radiological test exists which can exclusively diagnose RA.
Standard radiological methods: In general diagnosis of RA includes a case history, clinical signs, laboratory abnormalities and radiological examinations, viz. conventional radiography of the joints of the hands and feet.
Practical recommendations: This review summarizes the most important radiological features of RA and the radiological findings of its closest differential diagnoses.