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In ankylosing spondylitis (AS), the disease progression can lead to significant changes in spinal morphology. The imaging characteristic that would replace a "clover shape" is the presence of arcs that fuse together, often referred to as "bamboo spine" appearance seen in advanced stages of AS. This fusion occurs as a result of chronic inflammation leading to ossification of the spinal ligaments and formation of syndesmophytes, resulting in the vertebrae appearing as fused together in a continuous structure resembling an arc. This characteristic indicates advanced disease and is critical in differentiating AS from other conditions, as it directly reflects the pathophysiological processes involved in this form of inflammatory arthritis.

Understanding how spinal structures change in AS is crucial for diagnosis and monitoring disease progression, making this imaging feature particularly significant in clinical practice. Other options, while they may present in other spinal disorders, do not specifically denote the unique and characteristic fusion seen in ankylosing spondylitis.