title: Using extremity magnetic resonance imaging to assess and monitor early rheumatoid arthritis: the optimal joint combination to be scanned in clinical practice.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To identify the optimal combination for detecting erosions in early rheumatoid arthritis using extremity magnetic resonance imaging (eMRI).
  
  
  METHODS
  In 44 patients, eMRI of 1 hand identified 77% who were erosive, 2 hands 89%, and 2 hands and feet 91%.
  
  
  RESULTS
  eMRI identified 4 times as many erosions as radiography. At 6 months, eMRI of 1 hand identified an increase in erosions in 50% subjects, 2 hands in 55%, and 2 hands and feet in 55%. When only subjects with a change in erosion score above the smallest detectable difference were considered, these numbers were 30%, 25%, and 20%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  eMRI provides superior erosion identification compared to radiography. Imaging 2 hands can be used as a screening tool and 1 hand to monitor erosions over time.
authors.affiliation: University of Oklahoma Medical Research Foundation, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma 73104, USA. Ewa-Olech@omrf.ouhsc.edu
authors.forename: Ewa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Olech
authors.forename: Jane E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Freeston
authors.forename: Philip G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Conaghan
authors.forename: Elizabeth M A
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Hensor
authors.forename: Paul
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Emery
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Yocum
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001175:Arthrography; D018450:Disease Progression; D005121:Extremities / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007596:Joints / Q000473:pathology*; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged