Signs and symptoms of mycobacterial infection at the time of diagnosis were often minimal or absent despite substantial radiographically evident involvement.

Lack of correlation between the BMD findings and the presence or extent of radiographically evident osteolytic lesions suggested the presence of a systemic bone disease.

Participants: A total of 439 community-dwelling adults, aged 60 years or older, with radiographically evident knee osteoarthritis, pain, and self-reported physical disability.