Gull Wing Erosion is a radiographic sign of which condition?

Gull Wing Erosion is a radiographic sign of which condition?

• A. Osteitis deformans
• B. Erosive Osteoarthritis
• C. Osteoporosis
• D. Osteomyelitis

Answer: (B)

Gull-wing erosion is a radiographic hallmark of erosive osteoarthritis, a more inflammatory, destructive form of osteoarthritis that commonly affects the hand joints. On X-ray of the interphalangeal joints, you see central erosions at the joint surfaces that, on both sides, create a wing-like or gull-wing contour around the joint. This pattern reflects the central bone destruction seen in erosive OA, which helps distinguish it from other bone diseases. Other conditions have different radiographic stories: osteoporosis shows generalized demineralization with fragility fractures; osteomyelitis presents with focal bone destruction, possible sequestra, and surrounding soft-tissue swelling; and osteitis deformans (Paget disease) shows cortical thickening and coarsened trabeculae with bone expansion rather than isolated joint erosions.

Gull-wing erosion is a radiographic hallmark of erosive osteoarthritis, a more inflammatory, destructive form of osteoarthritis that commonly affects the hand joints. On X-ray of the interphalangeal joints, you see central erosions at the joint surfaces that, on both sides, create a wing-like or gull-wing contour around the joint. This pattern reflects the central bone destruction seen in erosive OA, which helps distinguish it from other bone diseases.

Other conditions have different radiographic stories: osteoporosis shows generalized demineralization with fragility fractures; osteomyelitis presents with focal bone destruction, possible sequestra, and surrounding soft-tissue swelling; and osteitis deformans (Paget disease) shows cortical thickening and coarsened trabeculae with bone expansion rather than isolated joint erosions.