Can magnetic resonance imaging differentiate undifferentiated arthritis?

Arthritis Res Ther. 2005;7(6):243-5. doi: 10.1186/ar1844. Epub 2005 Oct 13.

Abstract

A high sensitivity for the detection of inflammatory and destructive changes in inflammatory joint diseases makes magnetic resonance imaging potentially useful for assigning specific diagnoses, such as rheumatoid arthritis and psoriatic arthritis in arthritides, that remain undifferentiated after conventional clinical, biochemical and radiographic examinations. With recent data as the starting point, the present paper describes the current knowledge on magnetic resonance imaging in the differential diagnosis of undifferentiated arthritis.

MeSH terms

  • Arthritis / classification
  • Arthritis / diagnosis*
  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Early Diagnosis
  • Humans
  • Joints / pathology*
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging / methods*
  • Rheumatology / methods