Mixed Connective Tissue Disease: The Spectrum of Radiographic Manifestations

Mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) is a serologically distinct entity defined by a ribonuclease-sensitive extractable nuclear antigen. This unusual overlap syndrome has clinical features of scleroderma, systemic lupus erythematosus, polymyositis, and rheumatoid arthritis. In order to define the radiographic changes in MCTD, radiographs of the hands of 17 patients were studied, utilizing a fine-detail technique. Diffuse and periarticular osteopenia were found in 8 and 10 patients, respectively; soft-tissue swelling in 11; erosive changes in 9; joint-space narrowing in 7; tuft resorption and soft-tissue atrophy in 6; and subluxations in 2. In individual cases radiographs may appear normal or exhibit features of scleroderma, systemic lupus erythematosus or rheumatoid arthritis, thereby mirroring the clinical diversity of this entity.