© 1996 British Society for Rheumatology
Contrast-Enhanced MRI of Rheumatic Joint Disease
Department of Radiology, Rikshospitalet, University of Oslo Oslo, Norway
Correspondence to:
Correspondence to: Hans-Jorgen Smith, Department of Radiology, Rikshospitalet, N-0027 Oslo, Norway
| Abstract |
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Early MR diagnosis of inflammatory rheumatic joint disease relies on the detection of the proliferating synovium. Several studies have shown that reliable visualization of the inflamed synovium is dependent upon the enhancement provided by intravenously injected paramagnetic contrast media. This presentation discusses the role of contrast-enhanced MRI in the assessment of inflammatory rheumatic joint disease. It is concluded that the method may aid in early diagnosis, and that it has a great potential in the assessment of disease severity and inflammatory activity
KEY WORDS: Gadolinium, Joints, MR, Rheumatoid arthritis, Synovitis