Arthritis and other proliferative joint diseases

Arthritis is a leading cause of disability in the Western world. As clinical outcomes and treatment options vary depending on the type of arthritis present, it is important for practicing histopathologists to be aware of the various disease manifestations. Although inflammatory phenomena pertain in all forms of arthritis, it is classically characterised as non-inflammatory (osteoarthritis being the most common example) or inflammatory (seropositive and seronegative arthritis, crystal deposition disease, or sepsis). Other proliferative joint diseases including tenosynovial giant cell tumour and primary synovial chondromatosis are also discussed.