Table 2.

Dichotomous criteria for the radiographic diagnosis of spinal DISH

Original Author	Description
Haddad et al. 2013 [5]	‘…flowing bony bridges on the right aspect of at least four contiguous thoracic vertebrae seen on anteroposterior view and also confirmed to be flowing on the lateral thoracic spine radiograph, irrespective of the presence of radiographic sacroiliitis on the last available radiographic assessment’.
Denko et al. 2002 [47]	‘Patients with DISH met the following criteria… All DISH patients were 45 years or older with symptoms of pain in the spine and characteristic radiological changes in the involved areas consisting of widened intervertebral disk space and exuberant osteophytosis’
Guo et al. 1997 [46]	‘…flowing ossification of at least four contiguous vertebral bodies’
Marcelli et al. 1995 [45]	‘(1) Presence of flowing calcification and ossification along the anterolateral aspects of at least three contiguous vertebral bodies; (2) Presence of two (or more) flame-shaped anterolateral bony bridges over the intervertebral disc spaces in the same segment of the spine (3) Clear predominance of the lesions on the lower thoracic and upper lumbar region (although both sides of the vertebral column are frequently involved)’
Rogers et al. 1987 [48]	‘…the presence of massive vertical osteophytes on the right anterolateral surface of the bodies of the thoracic spine… The vertebrae may be ankylosed but disc spaces are normal and the facet joints… are almost always normal… there must also be extraspinal manifestations of new bone growth in ligaments, in tendinous insertions or in cartilage’.
Arlet and Mazières, 1985 [41]	‘(1) Bridging ossification of three adjoining vertebrae in the thoracic region. (2) Absence or minimal intervening disc disease. (3) No facet joint ankylosis. (4) Absence of sacroiliac joints erosion or ossification’
Brigode et al. 1982 [42]	To be included in the vertebral ankylosing hyperostosis series, patient had to have ‘at least two complete intervertebral bridges and a typical bone case along one vertebral body’
Resnick and Niwayama, 1976 [4]	‘(1) Flowing ossifications and/or calcifications along the anterolateral aspect of at least four contiguous vertebral bodies, with or without osteophytes; (2) Preservation of intervertebral disc height in the affected areas (to differentiate from degenerative disc disease) (3) Absence of bony ankylosis of facet joints, sacroiliac erosion, sclerosis or fusion (to differentiate from ankylosing spondylitis)’
Julkunen et al. 1975 [44]	‘…prominent and complete bony bridge connecting two vertebrae in two or more different sites in the dorsal spine’
Forestier and Lagier, 1971 [43]	‘(1) Flowing calcification at the anterolateral aspect of three vertebral bodies in the dorsal spine, thus forming two intervertebral ‘bridges’; (2) ‘Relative' preservation of disc height in the vertebral region involved; (3) Absence of sacroiliac lesions such as erosion, sclerosis and bony ankylosis, as well as absence of ankylosis in the posterior apophyseal joints (all these being present in ankylosing spondylitis, which is an inflammatory enthesopathy)’

DISH: Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis.