NBCE Exam 2026 – 400 Free Practice Questions to Pass the National Board of Chiropractic Examiners

The correct answer is that radiographic findings in the axial skeleton related to inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) share similarities with those seen in ankylosing spondylitis. Both conditions can present with similar imaging characteristics, particularly in the sacroiliac joints and along the spine.

Inflammatory bowel disease can lead to the development of spondyloarthritis, characterized by inflammation of the axial skeleton. Ankylosing spondylitis, a type of spondyloarthritis, is known for its significant involvement of the sacroiliac joints and vertebrae, often leading to features such as syndesmophytes, disc space narrowing, and fusion of spinal segments. Therefore, the resemblance in radiographic findings makes ankylosing spondylitis the most appropriate comparison.

While rheumatoid arthritis, osteitis condensans, and non-specific spondyloarthritis may have their own unique radiographic presentations, they do not exhibit the same distinctive features seen in both inflammatory bowel disease and ankylosing spondylitis in the axial skeleton. This highlights why acknowledging the specific radiographic similarities is crucial in understanding these conditions' overlap.