The presence of rheumatoid nodules at early rheumatoid arthritis diagnosis is a sign of extra-articular disease and predicts radiographic progression of joint destruction over 5 years.

Nyhäll-Wåhlin BM, Turesson C, Jacobsson LT, Nilsson JÅ, Forslind K, Albertsson K, Rönnelid J, Petersson IF. Scand J Rheumatol. 2011 Mar;40(2):81-7.