[Roentgen, magnetic resonance with contrast medium, scintigraphy. Staged diagnosis of sacroiliitis].
Radiographic imaging techniques including conventional tomography and computed tomography play a major role in the diagnosis of sacroiliitis (SI). In acute or early stages, however, it may take years before the first morphologic changes become apparent, and the diagnosis of early stages of sacroiliitis still challenges the diagnostician. While scintiscanning is capable of depicting early changes to the joints, it has only low specificity, and interpretation is often difficult, especially in young patients or in cases with bilateral SI arthritis. Contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) holds out promise of offering a solution to this problem. With no radiation dose to the patient, MRI is capable of reliably depicting early, acute and chronic alterations to the sacroiliac joints.
Kellner
W
W
Institut für Radiologische Diagnostik, Klinikum Innenstadt der Ludwig-Maximilians-Universität München. WKellner@med.uni-muenchen.de
Kellner
H
H
D001168:Arthritis / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D006801:Humans; D012446:Sacroiliac Joint; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity