Diagnosis
Radiography has a large role to play in the diagnosis of chondrocalcinosis, with radiographs, CT scans, MRIs, ultrasound, and nuclear medicine all having a part. CT scans and MRIs show calcific masses (usually within the ligamentum flavum or joint capsule), however radiography is more successful. As with most conditions, chondrocalcinosis can present with similarity to other diseases such as ankylosing spondylitis and gout.
Arthrocentesis, or removing synovial fluid from the affected joint, is performed to test the synovial fluid for the calcium pyrophosphate crystals that are present in CPPD. When stained with hematoxylin and eosin, calcium pyrophosphage crystals appears deeply blue ("basophilic"). However, CPP crystals are much better known for their rhomboid shape and weak positive birefringence on polarized light microscopy, and this method remains the most reliable method of identifying the crystals under the microscope. However, even this method suffers from poor sensitivity, specificity, and inter-operator agreement.
Read more about this topic: Calcium Pyrophosphate Deposition Disease