title: [Imaging methods in rheumatoid arthritis].
abstract: Biological agents revolutionized a therapeutic aspect of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) . It is important to establish early diagnosis and the evaluation method for RA. In addition to conventional X-ray, joint magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasonography became to be focused on. Conventional X-ray is not useful for early diagnosis for RA, but important for assessing bone destruction. Joint MRI is able to detect specific joint change such as synovitis and bone oedema, these are early change and strong predictor of bone destruction, hence useful for early diagnosis and prognostic decision for RA. Joint ultrasonography is reported as useful method for both evaluation of disease activity and imaging remission of synovitis. It is important to understand feature of these imaging tools to use in actual practice.
authors.affiliation: Center for Rheumatic Diseases, Tokeidai Memorial Hospital.
authors.forename: Jun
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Fukae
authors.forename: Takao
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Koike
mesh_terms: D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001175:Arthrography; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D007596:Joints / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging