Spectrum of Hand Arthritis: Doppler Ultrasound, Diffusion-Weighted MR Imaging, and Perfusion MR Imaging Evaluation

Early diagnosis of arthritis is of paramount importance to slow the progression of disease and joint destruction. Because of temporal dissemination of the clinical and laboratory manifestations of the inflammatory arthritis and overlap of the findings, diagnosis can be challenging in early stages of the disease. This article highlights the utility of advanced cross-sectional imaging, including color-Doppler ultrasound, diffusion-weighted MR imaging, and perfusion MR imaging in the domain of arthropathy so that the reader can apply these principles and techniques in their practices for timely and accurate diagnosis and improved multidisciplinary communications for better management of such conditions.