Superior margin rib defects in rheumatoid arthritis.

Twenty patients with severe rheumatoid arthritis and 96 controls were examined for prevalence and type of superior margin rib defects. In both groups a high prevalence of minor degrees of defects were found (40% and 38.5%). Solely in the rheumatoid group, additional erosive-appearing rib defects were found in 3 of the 20 patients. Radionucleotide scanning of these 3 patients did not show increased activity over the involved rib areas. In the rheumatoid group, the presence of severe shoulder disease correlated with the occurrence of rib defect (both types). We suggest that rib defects, particularly the erosive type, are related to scapulothoracic joint disease.