[Diagnostic value of synovial biopsy by Polley and Bickle's needles in chronic monarthritis of knee]

ABSTRACT

Chronic monarthritis is one of the problems in the realm of rheumatology. Synovial biopsy [SB] plays an important role in the diagnosis of chronic monarthritis. In order to evaluate the diagnostic value of SB in identifying the cause of chronic monoarticular arthritis of knee, we retrospectively studied 100 patients [mean age 35.3 year] admitted in rheumatology ward of Imam Khomeini Hospital. Monarthritis duration ranged between 4 to 6 months. After history taking, physical examination, laboratory and radiological studies, histopathological studies and culture had been performed in all of the biopsy samples. SBs were successfully performed in all of the patients without any complication. SB was able to indicate a definite diagnosis in 77 patients. The most common causes of chronic monarthritis were rheumatoid monarthritis [60 patients] and tuberculous monarthritis [10 patients]. The present results revealed the safety and diagnostic value of SB in chronic monarthritis. Obviously, timely diagnosis of monarthritis leads to selective and effective treatment and prevention of articular complications in the form of osteoarthritis