title: Magnetic resonance imaging in the assessment of rheumatoid arthritis--a comparison with plain film radiographs.
abstract: Conventional radiography lacks sensitivity in early rheumatoid disease. MRI with its advantages of soft tissue discrimination and multiplanar imaging facility might detect earlier disease. This study compares the MR images and conventional radiographs of 11 rheumatoid patients' wrists and carpi. In all cases, erosions were more extensive and numerous on the MR images compared to plain radiographs. MR is useful in detecting early aggressive disease and in monitoring the response to treatments.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, Mater Misericordiae Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Foley-Nolan
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Stack
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ryan
authors.forename: U
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Redmond
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Barry
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ennis
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Coughlan
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005260:Female; D006225:Hand / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D014953:Wrist / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology