Whole-body magnetic resonance imaging in inflammatory arthritis: Systematic literature review and first steps toward standardization and an omeract scoring system

Mikkel Østergaard*, Iris Eshed, Christian E. Althoff, Rene P. Poggenborg, Torsten Diekhoff, Simon Krabbe, Sabine Weckbach, Robert G.W. Lambert, Susanne J. Pedersen, Walter P. Maksymowych, Charles G. Peterfy, Jane Freeston, Paul Bird, Philip G. Conaghan, Kay Geert A. Hermann

*Corresponding author for this work
24 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Objective: Whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (WB-MRI) is a relatively new technique that can enable assessment of the overall inflammatory status of people with arthritis, but standards for image acquisition, definitions of key pathologies, and a quantification system are required. Our aim was to perform a systematic literature review (SLR) and to develop consensus definitions of key pathologies, anatomical locations for assessment, a set of MRI sequences and imaging planes for the different body regions, and a preliminary scoring system for WB-MRI in inflammatory arthritis. Methods: An SLR was initially performed, searching for WB-MRI studies in arthritis, osteoarthritis, spondyloarthritis, or enthesitis. These results were presented to a meeting of the MRI in Arthritis Working Group together with an MR image review. Following this, preliminary standards for WB-MRI in inflammatory arthritides were developed with further iteration at the Working Group meetings at the Outcome Measures in Rheumatology (OMERACT) 2016. Results: The SLR identified 10 relevant original articles (7 cross-sectional and 3 longitudinal, mostly focusing on synovitis and/or enthesitis in spondyloarthritis, 4 with reproducibility data). The Working Group decided on inflammation in peripheral joints and entheses as primary focus areas, and then developed consensus MRI definitions for these pathologies, selected anatomical locations for assessment, agreed on a core set of MRI sequences and imaging planes for the different regions, and proposed a preliminary scoring system. It was decided to test and further develop the system by iterative multireader exercises. Conclusion: These first steps in developing an OMERACT WB-MRI scoring system for use in inflammatory arthritides offer a framework for further testing and refinement. The Journal of Rheumatology

Original languageEnglish
JournalJournal of Rheumatology
Volume44
Issue number11
Pages (from-to)1699-1705
Number of pages7
ISSN0315-162X
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - Nov 2017

Keywords

  • Arthritis
  • Enthesitis
  • Magnetic resonance imaging
  • Omeract
  • Synovitis

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