Ultrasound can assess for synovitis or ganglia. There may be an effusion on ultrasound, similar to transient synovitis. Specific treatment depends on the underlying cause of the synovitis. Platelets also participate in chronic inflammatory diseases, such as synovitis or rheumatoid arthritis. The condition can be mistaken for osteomyelitis, transient synovitis or even child abuse. Septic arthritis can be difficult to separate from less serious conditions such as transient synovitis. Four different stages are distinguished on radiological evidence of synovitis, joint space and capsular laxity. Transient synovitis is a diagnosis of exclusion. It is especially used for synovitis associated with equine osteoarthritis. In reactive arthritis, sausage fingers occur due to synovitis. In transient synovitis, the joint fluid will be clear. On March 3, 2017, Dunleavy was diagnosed with right ankle synovitis. However, it cannot reliably distinguish between septic arthritis and transient synovitis. In pigmented villonodular synovitis, the synovial joint lining becomes swollen and grows. The synovial membranes get irritated and synovitis occurs.