Scintigraphic findings in ankylosing spondylitis

Area of Science:

• Nuclear medicine
• Rheumatology
• Orthopedics

Background:

• Ankylosing spondylitis (AS) is a chronic inflammatory disease primarily affecting the axial skeleton.
• Bone scintigraphy is a valuable diagnostic tool for various skeletal conditions.
• Understanding scintigraphic patterns in AS is crucial for diagnosis and management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To prospectively evaluate bone scintigraphic findings in patients diagnosed with ankylosing spondylitis.
• To identify common and uncommon scintigraphic manifestations of AS.
• To assess the utility of bone scintigraphy in diagnosing complications like intervertebral diskitis.

Main Methods:

• Prospective study design.
• Inclusion of 63 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of ankylosing spondylitis.
• Bone scintigraphy utilizing radiotracer uptake assessment.

Main Results:

• Abnormal radiotracer uptake was observed in the sacroiliac joints of AS patients.
• Peripheral arthropathy, especially in proximal joints, was a frequent finding (up to 50%).
• Spinal radiotracer uptake, both diffuse and focal, was noted. Focal uptake at apophyseal joints occurred in 40% of patients.
• Three patients presented with sterile intervertebral diskitis, diagnosed via bone scintigraphy.

Conclusions:

• Bone scintigraphy demonstrates characteristic sacroiliac joint abnormalities in ankylosing spondylitis.
• Peripheral arthropathy is a common extraskeletal manifestation detectable by bone scintigraphy.
• Bone scintigraphy aids in identifying spinal involvement and rare complications such as sterile intervertebral diskitis in AS.