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MRI and ultrasound in rheumatoid arthritis

Ashish J Mathew1, Debashish Danda, Philip G Conaghan

  • 1aDepartment of Clinical Immunology & Rheumatology, Christian Medical College, Vellore, India bLeeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine, University of Leeds & NIHR Leeds Musculoskeletal Biomedical Research Unit, Leeds, UK.

Current Opinion in Rheumatology
|March 2, 2016
PubMed
Abstract

Insights

Recent literature confirms magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and musculoskeletal ultrasonography (MSUS) are increasingly valuable for diagnosing, predicting, and monitoring rheumatoid arthritis (RA) progression and treatment effectiveness.

Area of Science:

  • Rheumatology
  • Medical Imaging

Background:

  • Subclinical inflammation is prevalent in early rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
  • Osteitis and tenosynovitis are early indicators in RA.
  • Imaging modalities are crucial for understanding RA pathogenesis.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To review current literature on MRI and MSUS applications in rheumatoid arthritis.
  • To highlight advancements in diagnostic and prognostic capabilities.

Main Methods:

  • Literature review of recent studies on MRI and MSUS in RA.
  • Analysis of imaging findings related to inflammation, osteitis, and tenosynovitis.
  • Evaluation of MRI and MSUS in predicting disease progression and treatment response.

Main Results:

  • MRI and MSUS detect subclinical inflammation and osteitis in early RA.
  • Power Doppler ultrasonography aids in predicting RA onset.
  • Compositional MRI measures correlate synovitis with cartilage damage.
  • Validated MSUS scores offer feasible joint counts for monitoring.
  • MRI is a validated predictor of clinical and radiographic damage in RA trials.

Conclusions:

  • MRI and MSUS demonstrate enhanced validity and utility in RA diagnosis.
  • These imaging techniques are vital for prognosis and monitoring RA.
  • Advancements support informed decisions regarding biologic therapy use and tapering.

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