Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis, commonly referred to as
DISH, is a form of degenerative
arthritis with flowing calcification along the sides of the
vertebrae of the
spine.
DISH used to be called Forestier disease. It is not a type of ankylosing spondylitis.
The victims of this disease are usually over 60 years of age. The etiology is unknown. 97% of DISH cases occur in the thoracic spine area (upper back, below the neck).
Here are the criteria for diagnosing DISH:
- flowing calcifications and ossifications along the anterolateral aspect of at least four contiguous vertebral bodies with or without osteophytes
- preservation of disc height in the involved areas and an absence of excessive disc disease
- absence of bony ankylosis of facet joints and absence of sacroiliac erosion, sclerosis, or bony fusion; however, narrowing and sclerosis of facet joints are acceptable