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Updated: Mar 3, 2026
Author Spotlight: Enhancing Rheumatoid Arthritis Research Through HR-pQCT Imaging Analysis
Published on: October 6, 2023
Assessing Synovitis and Bone Erosion With Apparent Diffusion Coefficient in Early Stage of Rheumatoid Arthritis
Jin Qu1, Xinwei Lei, Ying Zhan
1From the *Tianjin First Center Hospital, Tianjin; and †Philips Healthcare, Beijing, China.
Purpose:
The aim of this study was to assess the value of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) in distinguishing synovitis from joint fluid and bone erosion from cysts.
Methods:
Twenty-eight patients with suspected rheumatoid arthritis underwent diffusion-weighted imaging and pre- and post-contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging. The mean ADC values were compared between synovitis and joint effusion and between bone erosion and cyst.
Results:
Mean ADC value of synovitis was significantly lower than that of the joint effusion (2.6 ± 0.37 × 10 vs 1.63 ± 0.37 × 10 mm/s, P < 0.001; cutoff value 2.10 × 10 mm/s). Mean ADC value of bone erosion was significantly lower than that of the cysts (1.61 ± 0.39 × 10 vs 2.39 ± 0.34 × 10 mm/s, P < 0.001; cutoff value 2.04 × 10 mm/s).
Conclusion:
Apparent diffusion coefficient can be used in differentiating between synovitis and joint effusion and between bone erosion and cysts.
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