RT Journal Article
SR Electronic
T1 Magnetic Resonance Imaging of the Hand in Systemic Sclerosis
JF The Journal of Rheumatology
JO J Rheumatol
FD The Journal of Rheumatology
SP jrheum.080795
DO 10.3899/jrheum.080795
A1 Andrea H.L. Low
A1 Matthew Lax
A1 Sindhu R. Johnson
A1 Peter Lee
YR 2009
UL http://www.jrheum.org/content/early/2009/03/29/jrheum.080795.abstract
AB Objective To evaluate the utility of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in systemic sclerosis (SSc)-associated arthropathy. Methods MRI of the hand was performed in patients presenting with joint pain/swelling in order (1) to determine the frequency of inflammation on MRI, and (2) to compare MRI with radiography. Results Of 17 patients with SSc, 10 (59%) had inflammatory MRI findings with synovitis (n = 8), erosions (n = 7), joint effusion (n = 7), or tenosynovitis (n = 8). Bone edema was present in 9 patients. Of 7 patients with MRI erosions, only 2 had radiographic erosions. Conclusion Our study illustrates the usefulness of MRI in the accurate diagnosis and characterization of SSc-associated arthropathy.