Original MICA image-reading exercise, unscored. No clinical narrative absent from the source is added.
- Describe visible findings before proposing an interpretation.
- Suggest an interpretation and at least one image limitation.
- Which clinical findings or investigations would complement this observation?
Reveal the explained reading
Normal nailfold capillaroscopy
- Shape
- Hairpin loops
- Density
- Preserved in interpretable fields
- Calibre
- No characteristic giant capillaries
- Architecture
- Organised distal row
Morphological description
Describe distal row, loop shape and density; minor variations are not necessarily pathological.
Causes and diagnostic direction
A normal appearance occurs in healthy individuals and may accompany primary Raynaud phenomenon.
Differential diagnoses
Distinguish a normal field, non-specific abnormality and scleroderma pattern using the complete criteria.
Pitfalls and limitations
Density and diameter cannot be quantified without calibration; poor visibility does not constitute a normal result.
Take-home message
Conclude from a good-quality, multi-field examination and integrate clinical probability.
Sources
- Nailfold Capillaroscopy in Rheumatic Diseases: Which Parameters Should Be Evaluated? - PMC ↗
- Position article and guidelines 2018 recommendations of the Brazilian Society of Rheumatology for the indication, interpretation and performance of nailfold capillaroscopy | Advances in Rheumatology | Springer Nature Link ↗
Documentary review: 2026-10-12
Media source & rights
- Author
- Jmarchn
- Original source
- Jmarchn, CapillaroscopyNormal_01.png, CC BY-SA 3.0, Wikimedia Commons; conversion WebP et réduction proportionnelle.
- Licence
- CC BY-SA 3.0
- Changes
- Conversion WebP, redimensionnement proportionnel sans recadrage ni annotations ajoutées; EXIF retiré. Dérivé écran proportionnel ≤1280 px, WebP qualité76 ; vignette ≤320 px qualité72. Source acquise et dérivé initial conservés sans modification ; aucune retouche médicale, aucun recadrage.
- Dimensions
- 1181 × 908 px
- Check
- 2026-10-11T20:52:41.974096+00:00