La hiperostosis esquelética idiopática difusa (DISH) como expresión de un proceso sistémico Translated title: Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) as an expression of a systemic process

The vertebral involvement of DISH is described from an evaluation of 215 cadaveric spines and 100 patients with the disease. Radiographic features include linear new bone formation along the anterolateral aspect of the thoracic spine, a bumpy contour, subjacent radiolucency, and irregular and pointed bony excrescences at the superior and inferior vertebral margins in the cervical and lumbar regions. Pathologic features include focal and diffuse calcification and ossification in the anterior longitudinal ligament, paraspinal connective tissue, and annulus fibrosis, degeneration in the peripheral annulus fibrosis fibers, L-T-, and Y-shaped anterolateral extensions of fibrous tissue, hypervascularity, chronic inflammatory cellular infiltration, and periosteal new bone formation on the anterior surface of the vertebral bodies.

The extraspinal manifestations of Forestier's disease are described in 21 consecutive cases; diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) is suggested as a more appropriate description of this ossifying diathesis. Characteristic roentgen abnormalities of the spine were present in all individuals and associated with significant axial clinical complaints. In extraspinal locations, hyperostosis at ligament attachments usually occurs in the pelvis, calcaneus, tarsal bones, ulnar olecranon and patella, and is occasionally associated with clinical signs and symptoms requiring surgery. The radiographic appearance in the peripheral skeleton is frequently distinctive and allows the radiologist to suggest the correct diagnosis, even in the absence of axial radiographs.