[Magnetic resonance imaging of the hand in rheumatoid arthritis]

The aim of the study was to show the magnetic resonance (MR) images of changes in hands of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). The SE sequence T1-weighted (TR600, TE15) and fat-suppressed (A-250, TR1155, TE22) were obtained with 3 mm coronal scans and matrix 256 x 512, both before and after contrast medium administration. Knee coil was used. The images in both sequences of the following changes were obtained: bone erosions, synovitis, periarticular oedema, joint effusion, tendonitis and bone marrow oedema. The administration of intravenous contrast was found very useful. Changes of the joint synovium in osteoarthritis were characterised to differentiate them from changes due to RA. The authors suggest that MR imaging--because of its exceptional diagnostic value--may become a basic imaging method in evaluation of patients with RA.