Descriptions of spinal MRI lesions and definition of a positive MRI of the spine in axial spondyloarthritis: a consensual approach by the ASAS/OMERACT MRI study group

Kay-Geert A Hermann; Xenofon Baraliakos; Désirée M F M van der Heijde; Anne-Grethe Jurik; Robert Landewé; Helena Marzo-Ortega; Mikkel Østergaard; Martin Rudwaleit; Joachim Sieper; Jürgen Braun; Assessment in SpondyloArthritis international Society (ASAS)

doi:10.1136/ard.2011.150680

Descriptions of spinal MRI lesions and definition of a positive MRI of the spine in axial spondyloarthritis: a consensual approach by the ASAS/OMERACT MRI study group

Kay-Geert A Hermann, Xenofon Baraliakos, Désirée M F M van der Heijde, Anne-Grethe Jurik, Robert Landewé, Helena Marzo-Ortega, Mikkel Østergaard, Martin Rudwaleit, Joachim Sieper, Jürgen Braun, Assessment in SpondyloArthritis international Society (ASAS)

167 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Objective: The aim of this study was to define characteristic MRI findings in the spine of patients with axial spondyloarthritis (SpA) and provide a definition of a positive spinal MRI for inflammation and structural changes. Methods: Technical details of spinal MRI and the description of spinal lesions of both inflammation and structural changes were discussed in consecutive meetings of 10 experts of the Assessment in SpondyloArthritis international Society (ASAS). The discussions aimed at a broad consensus on definitions of 'a positive spinal MRI' for both types of lesions and were backed up by a systematic literature search. Results: A total of six different types of lesions were described for inflammation - anterior/posterior spondylitis, spondylodiscitis, arthritis of costovertebral joints, arthritis of zygoapophyseal joints and enthesitis of spinal ligaments - and another four for structural changes - fatty deposition, erosions, syndesmophytes and ankylosis. In the literature review, four relevant papers were identified. Anterior/posterior spondylitis and fat depositions at vertebral edges were considered as the most typical findings in SpA. Based on expert consensus and taking the literature review into consideration, a positive spinal MRI for inflammation was defined as the presence of anterior/posterior spondylitis in ≥3 sites. Evidence of fatty deposition at several vertebral corners was found to be suggestive of axial SpA, especially in younger adults. ASAS members (n=56) approved these definitions by voting in January 2010. Conclusions: This consensus statement gives clear descriptions of disease-related spinal lesions and of definitions of a positive spinal MRI for inflammatory lesions (spondylitis) and structural changes (fat deposition). These definitions can be used to describe findings of spinal MRI in patients with SpA in daily practice and clinical studies.

Original language	English
Journal	Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases
Volume	71
Issue number	8
Pages (from-to)	1278-88
Number of pages	11
ISSN	0003-4967
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1136/ard.2011.150680
Publication status	Published - Aug 2012

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Hermann, K-G. A., Baraliakos, X., van der Heijde, D. M. F. M., Jurik, A-G., Landewé, R., Marzo-Ortega, H., Østergaard, M., Rudwaleit, M., Sieper, J., Braun, J., & Assessment in SpondyloArthritis international Society (ASAS) (2012). Descriptions of spinal MRI lesions and definition of a positive MRI of the spine in axial spondyloarthritis: a consensual approach by the ASAS/OMERACT MRI study group. Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, 71(8), 1278-88. https://doi.org/10.1136/ard.2011.150680

Descriptions of spinal MRI lesions and definition of a positive MRI of the spine in axial spondyloarthritis : a consensual approach by the ASAS/OMERACT MRI study group. / Hermann, Kay-Geert A; Baraliakos, Xenofon; van der Heijde, Désirée M F M et al.

In: Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, Vol. 71, No. 8, 08.2012, p. 1278-88.

Research output: Contribution to journal › Journal article › Research › peer-review

Hermann, K-GA, Baraliakos, X, van der Heijde, DMFM, Jurik, A-G, Landewé, R, Marzo-Ortega, H, Østergaard, M, Rudwaleit, M, Sieper, J, Braun, J & Assessment in SpondyloArthritis international Society (ASAS) 2012, 'Descriptions of spinal MRI lesions and definition of a positive MRI of the spine in axial spondyloarthritis: a consensual approach by the ASAS/OMERACT MRI study group', Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases, vol. 71, no. 8, pp. 1278-88. https://doi.org/10.1136/ard.2011.150680

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title = "Descriptions of spinal MRI lesions and definition of a positive MRI of the spine in axial spondyloarthritis: a consensual approach by the ASAS/OMERACT MRI study group",

abstract = "Objective: The aim of this study was to define characteristic MRI findings in the spine of patients with axial spondyloarthritis (SpA) and provide a definition of a positive spinal MRI for inflammation and structural changes. Methods: Technical details of spinal MRI and the description of spinal lesions of both inflammation and structural changes were discussed in consecutive meetings of 10 experts of the Assessment in SpondyloArthritis international Society (ASAS). The discussions aimed at a broad consensus on definitions of 'a positive spinal MRI' for both types of lesions and were backed up by a systematic literature search. Results: A total of six different types of lesions were described for inflammation - anterior/posterior spondylitis, spondylodiscitis, arthritis of costovertebral joints, arthritis of zygoapophyseal joints and enthesitis of spinal ligaments - and another four for structural changes - fatty deposition, erosions, syndesmophytes and ankylosis. In the literature review, four relevant papers were identified. Anterior/posterior spondylitis and fat depositions at vertebral edges were considered as the most typical findings in SpA. Based on expert consensus and taking the literature review into consideration, a positive spinal MRI for inflammation was defined as the presence of anterior/posterior spondylitis in ≥3 sites. Evidence of fatty deposition at several vertebral corners was found to be suggestive of axial SpA, especially in younger adults. ASAS members (n=56) approved these definitions by voting in January 2010. Conclusions: This consensus statement gives clear descriptions of disease-related spinal lesions and of definitions of a positive spinal MRI for inflammatory lesions (spondylitis) and structural changes (fat deposition). These definitions can be used to describe findings of spinal MRI in patients with SpA in daily practice and clinical studies.",

author = "Hermann, {Kay-Geert A} and Xenofon Baraliakos and {van der Heijde}, {D{\'e}sir{\'e}e M F M} and Anne-Grethe Jurik and Robert Landew{\'e} and Helena Marzo-Ortega and Mikkel {\O}stergaard and Martin Rudwaleit and Joachim Sieper and J{\"u}rgen Braun and Mikkel {\O}stergaard",

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doi = "10.1136/ard.2011.150680",

language = "English",

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T1 - Descriptions of spinal MRI lesions and definition of a positive MRI of the spine in axial spondyloarthritis

T2 - a consensual approach by the ASAS/OMERACT MRI study group

AU - Hermann, Kay-Geert A

AU - Baraliakos, Xenofon

AU - van der Heijde, Désirée M F M

AU - Jurik, Anne-Grethe

AU - Landewé, Robert

AU - Marzo-Ortega, Helena

AU - Østergaard, Mikkel

AU - Rudwaleit, Martin

AU - Sieper, Joachim

AU - Braun, Jürgen

AU - Assessment in SpondyloArthritis international Society (ASAS)

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N2 - Objective: The aim of this study was to define characteristic MRI findings in the spine of patients with axial spondyloarthritis (SpA) and provide a definition of a positive spinal MRI for inflammation and structural changes. Methods: Technical details of spinal MRI and the description of spinal lesions of both inflammation and structural changes were discussed in consecutive meetings of 10 experts of the Assessment in SpondyloArthritis international Society (ASAS). The discussions aimed at a broad consensus on definitions of 'a positive spinal MRI' for both types of lesions and were backed up by a systematic literature search. Results: A total of six different types of lesions were described for inflammation - anterior/posterior spondylitis, spondylodiscitis, arthritis of costovertebral joints, arthritis of zygoapophyseal joints and enthesitis of spinal ligaments - and another four for structural changes - fatty deposition, erosions, syndesmophytes and ankylosis. In the literature review, four relevant papers were identified. Anterior/posterior spondylitis and fat depositions at vertebral edges were considered as the most typical findings in SpA. Based on expert consensus and taking the literature review into consideration, a positive spinal MRI for inflammation was defined as the presence of anterior/posterior spondylitis in ≥3 sites. Evidence of fatty deposition at several vertebral corners was found to be suggestive of axial SpA, especially in younger adults. ASAS members (n=56) approved these definitions by voting in January 2010. Conclusions: This consensus statement gives clear descriptions of disease-related spinal lesions and of definitions of a positive spinal MRI for inflammatory lesions (spondylitis) and structural changes (fat deposition). These definitions can be used to describe findings of spinal MRI in patients with SpA in daily practice and clinical studies.

AB - Objective: The aim of this study was to define characteristic MRI findings in the spine of patients with axial spondyloarthritis (SpA) and provide a definition of a positive spinal MRI for inflammation and structural changes. Methods: Technical details of spinal MRI and the description of spinal lesions of both inflammation and structural changes were discussed in consecutive meetings of 10 experts of the Assessment in SpondyloArthritis international Society (ASAS). The discussions aimed at a broad consensus on definitions of 'a positive spinal MRI' for both types of lesions and were backed up by a systematic literature search. Results: A total of six different types of lesions were described for inflammation - anterior/posterior spondylitis, spondylodiscitis, arthritis of costovertebral joints, arthritis of zygoapophyseal joints and enthesitis of spinal ligaments - and another four for structural changes - fatty deposition, erosions, syndesmophytes and ankylosis. In the literature review, four relevant papers were identified. Anterior/posterior spondylitis and fat depositions at vertebral edges were considered as the most typical findings in SpA. Based on expert consensus and taking the literature review into consideration, a positive spinal MRI for inflammation was defined as the presence of anterior/posterior spondylitis in ≥3 sites. Evidence of fatty deposition at several vertebral corners was found to be suggestive of axial SpA, especially in younger adults. ASAS members (n=56) approved these definitions by voting in January 2010. Conclusions: This consensus statement gives clear descriptions of disease-related spinal lesions and of definitions of a positive spinal MRI for inflammatory lesions (spondylitis) and structural changes (fat deposition). These definitions can be used to describe findings of spinal MRI in patients with SpA in daily practice and clinical studies.

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M3 - Journal article

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SN - 0003-4967

VL - 71

SP - 1278

EP - 1288

JO - Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases

JF - Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases

IS - 8

ER -

Descriptions of spinal MRI lesions and definition of a positive MRI of the spine in axial spondyloarthritis: a consensual approach by the ASAS/OMERACT MRI study group

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