title: Utility of synovial biopsy.
abstract: Synovial biopsies, gained either by blind needle biopsy or minimally invasive arthroscopy, offer additional information in certain clinical situations where routine assessment has not permitted a certain diagnosis. In research settings, synovial histology and modern applications of molecular biology increase our insight into pathogenesis and enable responses to treatment with new therapeutic agents to be assessed directly at the pathophysiological level. This review focuses on the diagnostic usefulness of synovial biopsies in the light of actual developments.
authors: Department of Endocrinology, Diabetology, and Rheumatology, Heinrich Heine University, 40225 Düsseldorf, Germany. stefan.vordenbaeumen@med.uni-duesseldorf.de
authors: Stefan
authors: S
authors: Vordenbäumen
authors: Leo Ab
authors: LA
authors: Joosten
authors: Johannes
authors: J
authors: Friemann
authors: Matthias
authors: M
authors: Schneider
authors: Benedikt
authors: B
authors: Ostendorf
mesh_terms: D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001706:Biopsy / Q000295:instrumentation* / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D000074402:Synovectomy