Figure 3:

Flowchart of the criteria for (early) diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH). The flowchart was used to differentiate between no DISH, early DISH, and definite DISH by using the criteria. The corresponding scores for the presence and completeness of a bone bridge are presented in Figure 2. For the diagnostic criteria, simply the flowchart should be used to diagnose DISH. For the classification criteria, the overall height of the intervertebral disks and the presence of ankylosis of the facet joints should be evaluated to exclude potential cases of other diseases that cause formation of new bone in the spine.