Subchondral sclerosis is a radiographic feature commonly seen in which condition?

• A. Osteoarthritis
• B. Rheumatoid arthritis
• C. Gout
• D. Calcific tendinopathy

Answer: (A)

Subchondral sclerosis appears when bone just under the cartilage becomes denser as a response to cartilage loss from degenerative changes. This thickening of the subchondral bone is a characteristic radiographic clue for osteoarthritis, reflecting long-standing wear-and-tear and remodeling of the joint. In osteoarthritis you often also see joint-space narrowing and osteophyte formation, reinforcing that degenerative pattern. By contrast, rheumatoid arthritis typically shows inflammatory joint destruction with erosions and more uniform joint-space loss; gout produces erosions with overhanging edges and tophi; calcific tendinopathy shows calcium deposits in tendons rather than changes under the joint surface.