Enlargement of distal interphalangeal joints is commonly seen in which medical condition?

The enlargement of distal interphalangeal joints is classically associated with osteoarthritis. This condition is characterized by the degeneration of joint cartilage and the underlying bone, often leading to changes in joint structure, including the formation of bony spurs and the enlargement of the affected joints.

In the case of osteoarthritis, the distal interphalangeal joints (the joints closest to the fingertip) often experience specific changes, resulting in a condition known as Heberden's nodes. These nodes are bony enlargements that occur as the cartilage wears away and bone begins to grow abnormally, leading to joint swelling and stiffness.

Other conditions like rheumatoid arthritis typically affect the proximal interphalangeal joints (the joints in the middle of the fingers) and often lead to symmetrical joint swelling and deformities. Psoriatic arthritis can also involve distal interphalangeal joints, but it is more variable in its pattern, and the classic bony changes are not as characteristic as in osteoarthritis. Gouty arthritis primarily affects the first metatarsophalangeal joint in the foot but can involve other joints, usually not leading to the specific involvement of the distal interphalangeal joints in the same pattern seen in osteoarthritis.