Imaging in Axial Spondyloarthritis: What is Relevant for Diagnosis in Daily Practice?

Purpose of Review To explore how imaging may assist diagnosing axial spondyloarthritis in rheumatology practice. Recent Findings A diagnosis of axial spondyloarthritis is based on pattern recognition by synthesizing clinical, laboratory, and imaging findings. In health care settings providing low th...

Full description

Saved in:
Bibliographic Details
Published in:Current rheumatology reports 2021-08, Vol.23 (8), p.66-66, Article 66
Main Authors: Weber, Ulrich, Jurik, Anne Grethe, Lambert, Robert G. W., Maksymowych, Walter P.
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Medicine
Medicine & Public Health
Rheumatology
Section Editors
Spondyloarthritis (M Khan and N Akkoc
Topical Collection on Spondyloarthritis
Citations: Items that this one cites
Items that cite this one
Online Access:Get full text
Tags: Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
Description
Summary:Purpose of Review To explore how imaging may assist diagnosing axial spondyloarthritis in rheumatology practice. Recent Findings A diagnosis of axial spondyloarthritis is based on pattern recognition by synthesizing clinical, laboratory, and imaging findings. In health care settings providing low threshold access to advanced imaging, sacroiliac joint MRI is the preferred imaging modality in clinically suspected axial spondyloarthritis. In daily routine, the optimum protocol to assess suspected inflammatory back pain combines sacroiliac joint and spine MRI fitting a 30-min slot. Contextual assessment of concomitant structural and active MRI lesions is key to enhance diagnostic utility. In women with postpartum back pain suggestive of axial spondyloarthritis, recent reports advocate waiting 6–12 months after delivery before acquiring sacroiliac joint MRI. Major unmet needs are consistent MRI protocols, standardized training modules on how to evaluate axial MRI, and timely dissemination of imaging advances into mainstream practice both in rheumatology and in radiology. Summary In rheumatology practice, MRI has become indispensable to help diagnose early axial spondyloarthritis. However, major gaps in training and knowledge transfer to daily care need to be closed.
ISSN:1523-3774
1534-6307
DOI:10.1007/s11926-021-01030-w