[The value of morphology in the diagnosis of chronic polyarthritis]

The clinician's question concerning the value of morphological findings in diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis is answered by the pathologist. After a short discussion of clinical problems and the ARA-criteria, at first the diagnostic importance of synovial cytology in RA is dealt with. The patient's history, biopsy technique and methods are the most important prerequisites of an optimal assistance of the pathologist to a definite diagnosis; they are reviewed in short paragraphs. These data are the bases of the morphological evaluation which is discussed in detail. This is the most important part of the answer to questions of the clinician; the pathologist is not only able to verify the clinical diagnosis of rheumatoid synovitis or of RA but often he may decisively judge the course and activity of the disease and the therapeutic success.