TY - JOUR

T1 - Imaging in rheumatoid arthritis

T2 - the role of magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography

AU - Østergaard, Mikkel

AU - Boesen, Mikael

PY - 2019

Y1 - 2019

N2 - In suspected and diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis (RA), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) allows detection of all relevant pathologies, such as synovitis, tenosynovitis, bone marrow edema (osteitis), bone erosion and cartilage damage. MRI is more sensitive than clinical examination for monitoring disease activity (i.e., inflammation) and more sensitive than conventional radiography and ultrasonography for monitoring joint destruction. In suspected RA, MRI bone marrow edema predicts development of RA, and in early RA patients, it predicts subsequent structural damage progression. CT is the standard reference imaging modality for visualizing bone damage, including bone erosions in RA, but lacks sensitivity for soft-tissue changes, including synovitis and tenosynovitis. CT has a minimal role in RA clinical trials and practice, except in selected patients where MRI is contraindicated or not available or if crystal arthritis such as gout or pseudo-gout is suspected. MRI has documented utility in diagnosis, monitoring and prognostication of patients with RA and is increasingly used for these purposes in clinical practice and particularly clinical trials.

AB - In suspected and diagnosed rheumatoid arthritis (RA), magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) allows detection of all relevant pathologies, such as synovitis, tenosynovitis, bone marrow edema (osteitis), bone erosion and cartilage damage. MRI is more sensitive than clinical examination for monitoring disease activity (i.e., inflammation) and more sensitive than conventional radiography and ultrasonography for monitoring joint destruction. In suspected RA, MRI bone marrow edema predicts development of RA, and in early RA patients, it predicts subsequent structural damage progression. CT is the standard reference imaging modality for visualizing bone damage, including bone erosions in RA, but lacks sensitivity for soft-tissue changes, including synovitis and tenosynovitis. CT has a minimal role in RA clinical trials and practice, except in selected patients where MRI is contraindicated or not available or if crystal arthritis such as gout or pseudo-gout is suspected. MRI has documented utility in diagnosis, monitoring and prognostication of patients with RA and is increasingly used for these purposes in clinical practice and particularly clinical trials.

KW - Bone erosion

KW - Bone marrow edema

KW - Computed tomography

KW - Diagnosis

KW - Magnetic resonance imaging

KW - Monitoring

KW - Prognostication

KW - Rheumatoid arthritis

KW - Synovitis

KW - Tenosynovitis

U2 - 10.1007/s11547-019-01014-y

DO - 10.1007/s11547-019-01014-y

M3 - Review

C2 - 30880357

AN - SCOPUS:85063090594

VL - 124

SP - 1128

EP - 1141

JO - Minerva radiologica

JF - Minerva radiologica

SN - 0033-8362

ER -