I. Pathological basis and X-ray signs of fluorine-associated arthropathy
Long-term uptake of excessive fluorine may cause pathological changes of bone structure and bone periphery; furthermore, animal experiments and epidemiological investigations demonstrate that fluorosis may cause necrosis, degeneration and ulceration of articular cartilage, and also cause necrosis of subchondral bones, leading to hypertrophy of synovium and joint capsule and a series of reparative changes which will resul
The most severe consequence of intensive exposure to fluorides is skeletal injury with initial injury of spongy bones (pelvis and spine) and calcification of the ligaments, followed by involvement of the long bones in the disease. These radiological-morphological abnormalities are the diagnostic criteria and have been made the basis for classification of skeletal fluorosis [5, 6]. A number of studies demonstrated similar events with occupational exposure to fluorides and with endemic fluorosis.
