J Korean Radiol Soc.  1996 Jun;34(6):831-836.

Clinical Significance of Dynamic Magnetic Resonance imaging in the Evaluation of Wrist Joint in Rheumatoid Arthritis

• Shim YW
• Suh JS
• Cho JH
• Lee SK
• Lee JS

Abstract

PURPOSE
To assess the role of contrast-enhanced dynamic Magnetic Resonance Imaging in evaluating disease activity of rheumatoid arthritis.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Forty-seven wrist joints with rheumatoid arthritis were examined prospectively. coronal images of the wrist were obtained using fat-suppression Fast multi-planar spoiled gradient recalled(FMPSPGR) acquisition in the steady state ; TR/TE=102/6.4m sec, flip angle=60.4 slices persequence, FOV=8cm, matrix=256X192 at 1.5 Tesla. Scans were carried out once before and five to eight times after an intravenous Gd-DPTA injection, at 30-second-intervals. The enhancement of synovium were measured, the enhancement ratio was calculated(postcontrast SNR/precontrast SNR) and time-enhancement ratio curves were plotted patients were divided into three groups according to the ratio of inital to peak enhancement: less than 30%; 30-80%; morethan 80%. Differences among the three groups were statistically tested using clinical indices and laboratory data as variables.
RESULTS
Comparing one group with another, there were no significant differences in clinical indices and laberatory data except for the parameter of grip strength.
CONCLUSION
Enhancement pattern measured in a single wrist joint was not comparable to a clinical index in predicting disease activity in rheumatoid arthritis.

Keyword

Arthritis, rheumatoid; Joints, MR; Wrist, MR; Wrist, arthritis

MeSH Terms

Arthritis, Rheumatoid
Hand Strength
Magnetic Resonance Imaging*
Prospective Studies
Synovial Membrane
Wrist Joint*
Wrist*