OBJECTIVE: To compare ultrasonography (US) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in their capability to detect bone erosions in early-advanced rheumatoid arthritis, where no erosion was evident on conventional radiography (X-ray). METHODS: Metacarpophalangeal (MCP), radiocarpal and ulnocarpal joints of 13 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, with bone erosion that was not detected by conventional X-ray, were examined by US and MRI. Ten controls underwent examination of the same joints by US. RESULTS: None of the controls showed bone erosions at US examination. No significant difference between US and MRI in detecting bone erosion was observed in wrist joints, whereas a significantly higher number of erosions was detected by US in MCP joints. CONCLUSION: US is at least as sensitive as MRI in detecting bone erosions in MCP and wrist joints. Since US examination is a more easily available and less expensive procedure than MRI, our findings justify its use as a diagnostic tool for early arthritis. In addition US may also be utilized in the follow up of patients with an established diagnosis of inflammatory arthritis.
OBJECTIVE: To compare ultrasonography (US) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in their capability to detect bone erosions in early-advanced rheumatoid arthritis, where no erosion was evident on conventional radiography (X-ray). METHODS: Metacarpophalangeal (MCP), radiocarpal and ulnocarpal joints of 13 patients with rheumatoid arthritis, with bone erosion that was not detected by conventional X-ray, were examined by US and MRI. Ten controls underwent examination of the same joints by US. RESULTS: None of the controls showed bone erosions at US examination. No significant difference between US and MRI in detecting bone erosion was observed in wrist joints, whereas a significantly higher number of erosions was detected by US in MCP joints. CONCLUSION: US is at least as sensitive as MRI in detecting bone erosions in MCP and wrist joints. Since US examination is a more easily available and less expensive procedure than MRI, our findings justify its use as a diagnostic tool for early arthritis. In addition US may also be utilized in the follow up of patients with an established diagnosis of inflammatory arthritis.
Authors: Stephen A Wright; Emilio Filippucci; Claire McVeigh; Arthur Grey; Maura McCarron; Walter Grassi; Gary D Wright; Allister J Taggart Journal: Ann Rheum Dis Date: 2006-12-21 Impact factor: 19.103
Authors: Edoardo Cipolletta; Gianluca Smerilli; Andrea Di Matteo; Jacopo Di Battista; Marco Di Carlo; Walter Grassi; Emilio Filippucci Journal: Ther Adv Musculoskelet Dis Date: 2021-04-16 Impact factor: 5.346
Authors: Marcin Szkudlarek; Mette Klarlund; Eva Narvestad; Michel Court-Payen; Charlotte Strandberg; Karl E Jensen; Henrik S Thomsen; Mikkel Østergaard Journal: Arthritis Res Ther Date: 2006-03-06 Impact factor: 5.156