Hemophiliac arthropathy. Appearance on bone scintigraphy.

It is well known that repeated episodes of hemarthrosis can lead to synovial hypertrophy and neovascularization. The inflamed synovium develops into a fibrous pannus, which becomes locally invasive causing loss of cartilage and subchondral cyst formation. When this occurs, hemophillac arthropathy can be diagnosed on plain radiographs. Bone scintigraphy will show increased periarticular uptake not only in the late stages but also during the initial stage of synovial hypertrophy. In hemophiliacs who are now HIV positive, a superimposed septic arthritis must also be considered. The scintigraphic and radiographic findings of hemophiliac arthropathy are presented