[Imaging in osteoarthritis]

Area of Science:

• Orthopedics
• Radiology
• Rheumatology

Background:

• Plain radiography is a traditional tool for osteoarthritis (OA) diagnosis.
• Its correlation with patient symptoms and disease progression is limited.
• It primarily reflects cumulative joint damage.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the role of plain radiography in osteoarthritis diagnosis.
• To compare radiography with modern imaging techniques, particularly MRI.
• To assess the correlation of imaging findings with OA symptoms and progression.

Main Methods:

• Review of current literature on osteoarthritis imaging.
• Comparison of plain radiography and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in OA assessment.
• Analysis of the relationship between imaging findings, symptoms, and clinical course.

Main Results:

• Plain radiography shows poor correlation with osteoarthritis symptoms and progression.
• Modern imaging, especially MRI, demonstrates better correlation with symptoms.
• MRI provides superior insights into active disease processes and joint structures.
• MRI has a better predictive value for the clinical course of osteoarthritis.

Conclusions:

• Plain radiography remains indicated for excluding alternative diagnoses or identifying complications.
• MRI has largely replaced radiography for studying osteoarthritis due to its ability to visualize active processes.
• Advanced imaging offers a more comprehensive understanding of osteoarthritis's active and evolving nature.