The value of sensitive imaging modalities in rheumatoid arthritis 英文参考文献.docVIP

Arthritis Research Therapy Vol 5 No 5 Taylor Commentary The value of sensitive imaging modalities in rheumatoid arthritis Peter C Taylor The Kennedy Institute of Rheumatology Division, Faculty of Medicine, Imperial College London, UK Correspondence: Peter C Taylor (e-mail: peter.c.taylor@imperial.ac.uk)) Received: 22 May 2003 Accepted: 2 Jul 2003 Published: 16 Jul 2003 Arthritis Res Ther 2003, 5:210-213 (DOI 10.1186/ar794) ? 2003 BioMed Central Ltd (Print ISSN 1478-6354; Online ISSN 1478-6362) Abstract X-ray evaluation of rheumatoid joints is relatively inexpensive, is widely available and has standardised methods for interpretation. It also has limitations, including the inability to reliably determine structural change in less than 6–12 months, the need for experienced readers to interpret images and the limited acceptance of this technique in routine clinical practice. High-frequency ultrasound, with or without power Doppler, and magnetic resonance imaging of rheumatoid joints permit an increasingly refined analysis of anatomic detail. However, further research using these sensitive imaging technologies is required to delineate pathophysiological correlates of imaging abnormalities and to standardise methods for assessment. Keywords: magnetic resonance imaging, power Doppler, radiography, rheumatoid arthritis, ultrasonography Introduction ultrasonographic technologies emphasise the inade- quacy of CR for soft tissue assessment in RA. Evaluation of disease activity and structural damage to joints in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is essential in both routine clinical management and clinical trials. But does conventional radiography (CR) remain the gold-standard methodology for assessment of joint damage in RA? Ultrasonography Recent studies addressing the use of conventional grey- scale (B-mode) ultrasonography (US) in the evaluation of RA synovial inflammation and joi