Whole-body MR imaging for patients with rheumatism | Arthritis Information
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
http://www.sciencedirect.com/science?_ob=ArticleURL&_udi=B6T6F-4W50K0F-7&_user=10&_coverDate=06%2F30%2F2009&_rdoc=9&_fmt=high&_orig=browse&_srch=doc-info(%23toc%235029%232009%23999299996%231183061%23FLA%23display%23Volume)&_cdi=5029&_sort=d&_docanchor=&_ct=36&_acct=C000050221&_version=1&_urlVersion=0&_userid=10&md5=5993378eebf50babfcb42fd14d59de50Has anyone has this done? I have so much metal in my body from a life lived -on the edge- that if there is any alternative to MRI's I opt out.
To date, the best diagnostic tools, for me and my physicians, have been old-fashioned x-rays and ultrasounds. However, I stress that this is just me and my disease progression.
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