Question

A young man came to the medical OPD with complaints of early morning backache and stiffness, which improves on exercise, and persistent red eyes. On examination, lung expansion was less than 3 cm. X-ray is shown in the image given below.

What is the most probable diagnosis?

• A. Ankylosing spondylitis
• B. Paget's disease
• C. Healed tuberculosis
• D. Osteopetrosis

Answer 1

The Correct Option is A

The symptoms and examination findings in the provided case point towards a specific diagnosis. Let’s analyze the information step by step:

1. Early morning backache and stiffness improving with exercise: This is a characteristic symptom of inflammatory back pain.
2. Persistent red eyes: This symptom suggests a possible association with uveitis, commonly found in certain inflammatory conditions.
3. Decreased lung expansion: This finding is indicative of a restrictive pattern due to thoracic rigidity, which can be observed in musculoskeletal conditions affecting the spine.
4. Probable radiographic findings: Although the actual X-ray image is not visible here, a typical finding in the context of these symptoms would be sacroiliitis or the "bamboo spine" appearance, often seen in ankylosing spondylitis.

Considering these pieces of information, the most probable diagnosis is Ankylosing spondylitis. This condition is a type of seronegative spondyloarthropathy that involves inflammation of the axial skeleton, particularly affecting young males, and is known for the exact constellation of symptoms described.