MRI and ultrasound of the hands and wrists in rheumatoid arthritis. I. Imaging findings

Skeletal Radiology
David A Rubin

Abstract

The management of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has rapidly evolved with the development of newer disease-modifying drugs and the recognition that long-term damage can be mitigated by an earlier and more-informed use of these medications. Historically, radiographs were the mainstay of imaging in RA patients, but radiographic joint narrowing and erosions are late and insensitive findings in the disease. MRI (with intravenous contrast agent) and ultrasound (with power Doppler interrogation) of the hands and wrists are able to demonstrate erosions earlier and with greater sensitivity than radiographs. More importantly, these imaging studies also depict synovitis and active soft-tissue inflammation, which represents a precursor to structural damage. Additionally, MRI can show inflammation within the bones (osteitis), which is proving to be the most important prognosticator of an aggressive disease course. Part I of this review discusses the imaging techniques, pitfalls, definitions, and comparative studies of MRI and ultrasound for identifying and quantifying erosions, synovitis, and osteitis. Part II will demonstrate how these imaging findings influence the clinical management of RA patients throughout their disease cour...Continue Reading

References

Feb 1, 1977·Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases·A Brook, M Corbett
Jan 1, 1990·Epidemiologic Reviews·M C Hochberg, T D Spector
Nov 1, 1988·The Journal of Hand Surgery·A N ErtelB Leslie
Oct 1, 1987·Radiology·J BeltranA S Baran
Jan 1, 1993·Scandinavian Journal of Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery and Hand Surgery·M F Neurath, E Stofft
Nov 1, 1995·British Journal of Rheumatology·D M van der Heijde
Dec 1, 1995·Arthritis Care and Research : the Official Journal of the Arthritis Health Professions Association·P P Katz
Apr 6, 2001·Skeletal Radiology·H M BonélM Reiser
May 19, 2001·Skeletal Radiology·G ValeriA Giovagnoni
May 19, 2001·Best Practice & Research. Clinical Rheumatology·W E OllierD Symmons
Jun 22, 2002·AJR. American Journal of Roentgenology·B PartikT H Helbich
Mar 25, 2004·AJR. American Journal of Roentgenology·Bachir TaouliHarry K Genant
Oct 27, 2004·AJR. American Journal of Roentgenology·Jamshid TehranzadehCarolyn Dennehey
Jan 14, 2005·Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases·M ØstergaardP Conaghan
Jan 14, 2005·Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases·F McQueenP Conaghan
Aug 6, 2005·The Journal of Immunology : Official Journal of the American Association of Immunologists·Esther Jimenez-BojGeorg Schett
Sep 6, 2005·Arthritis and Rheumatism·Daniel AletahaJosef S Smolen

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Citations

Sep 16, 2020·Arthritis Research & Therapy·Meiyan YuJianwei Huo
Aug 11, 2020·Pain Research & Management : the Journal of the Canadian Pain Society = Journal De La Société Canadienne Pour Le Traitement De La Douleur·Akira HashimotoMasaaki Mawatari
Dec 29, 2020·The Journal of Hand Surgery·Jeannie F BucknerPeter M Murray
Dec 4, 2021·Seminars in Musculoskeletal Radiology·Wing Hung Alex NgIsaac Sung Him Ng

❮ Previous
Next ❯

Related Concepts

Related Feeds

Anti-inflammatory Treatments

A drug or substance that reduces inflammation (redness, swelling, and pain) in the body. Anti-inflammatory agents block certain substances in the body that cause inflammation and swelling. Discover the latest research on anti-inflammatory treatments here