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Correlation of structural abnormalities of the wrist and metacarpophalangeal joints evaluated by high‐resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography, 3 T esla magnetic resonance imaging and conventional radiographs in rheumatoid arthritis
Author(s) -
Lee Chan Hee,
Srikhum Waraporn,
Burghardt Andrew J.,
Virayavanich Warapat,
Imboden John B.,
Link Thomas M.,
Li Xiaojuan
Publication year - 2015
Publication title -
international journal of rheumatic diseases
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.795
H-Index - 41
eISSN - 1756-185X
pISSN - 1756-1841
DOI - 10.1111/1756-185x.12495
Subject(s) - medicine , magnetic resonance imaging , wrist , radiography , quantitative computed tomography , computed tomography , rheumatoid arthritis , radiology , metacarpophalangeal joint , peripheral , high resolution , nuclear medicine , anatomy , pathology , thumb , osteoporosis , bone density , remote sensing , geology
Aim In rheumatoid arthritis ( RA ) hands, we applied high‐resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography ( HR ‐p QCT ) and 3 T esla (3 T ) magnetic resonance imaging ( MRI ), which are new methods for erosion detection and bone marrow edema ( BME ) quantification. We compared the erosion measurements between these techniques with conventional radiographs ( CR ) in order to examine their significance for evaluating structural abnormalities. Methods In 16 RA patients, HR ‐p QCT of metacarpophalangeal and wrist joints, 3 T MRI of wrist joints, as well as CR in both hands and feet were performed. Ten patients had 1‐year follow‐up CR . CR s were graded according to the modified Sharp score ( MSS ). Bone erosions were evaluated in HR ‐p QCT and MRI . BME pattern was quantified from MRI for volume, signal change and total burden. Results The erosion detection sensitivity of MRI was 85.7% and CR was 60.9% when HR ‐p QCT was considered as a reference method. The smallest dimensions of erosion detected by HR ‐p QCT , MRI and CR were 0.09, 0.14 and 0.66 cm, respectively. Baseline total MSS was correlated with HR ‐p QCT erosion measures, MRI erosion measures and MRI BME volume ( P < 0.05). The mean difference between baseline and 1‐year follow‐up MSS (delta MSS ) was 1.2. A trend was observed toward a correlation between delta MSS and MRI BME volume and burden. Conclusion This study demonstrates that HR ‐p QCT detects more and smaller bone erosions compared to MRI and CR . In addition, 3 T MRI can provide quantitative measurement of BME . Combination of HR ‐p QCT and MRI modalities may provide powerful tools to evaluate joint inflammation and bone damage in RA .