Whole-body MR imaging for patients with rheumatism
Weckbach S – This review article on whole-body MR imaging (WB-MRI) for patients with rheumatism is foused on spondyloarthropathies, and discusses the following topics: - A short overview on spondylarthopathies with clinical and imaging features.
- Review of different imaging modalities for imaging of spondylarthopathies.
- Current role of MRI in assessing spondylarthopathies and present a short overwiew on MR imaging in clinical trials.
- Role of WB-magnetic resonance imaging in spondylarthopathies.
- Other emerging potential applications of WB-MRI in rheumatism.
Review concludes that: - WB-MRI in rheumatic diseases is still an emerging imaging tool; so far mainly used in seronegative spondyloarthropathies
- It has the ability to visualize the majority of involved joints and soft tissue structures
- It is suitable for imaging of different forms of spondylopathies, allowing different types of joint involvement to be recognized
- Its role in daily practice is not yet clear
- WB-MRI is not recommended as a first line investigation in every patient suffering from a form of spondyloarthropathy
- Moreover, WB-MRI might obtain a stronger role in the early diagnosis of spondyloarthritides and in the assessment of treatment response
- Other rheumatic diseases where WB-MRI may play a role in the future are polymyositis, CRMO and forms of vasculitis
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