title: Correlation between computer-aided dynamic gadolinium-enhanced MRI assessment of inflammation and semi-quantitative synovitis and bone marrow oedema scores of the wrist in patients with rheumatoid arthritis--a cohort study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To test the correlation between assessment of inflammation using dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) analysed by a novel computer-aided approach and semi-quantitative scores of synovitis and bone marrow oedema (BME) using the OMERACT-RA MRI Scoring (RAMRIS) system, in the wrist of patients with RA.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifty-four RA patients had conventional and DCE-MRI of a symptomatic wrist using a low-field 0.2T extremity scanner. RAMRIS synovitis and BME of the wrist joint were done. DCE-MRI data were analysed in three ways: (i) in all images (fully automated approach), (ii) within a large extended region of interest (ROI) placed around the wrist joint (semi-automated approach) and (iii) within a small ROI placed in the area with most visual enhancement (semi-automated approach). Time spent on each procedure was noted. Spearman's rank correlation test was applied to assess the correlation between RAMRIS and the computer-generated dynamic parameters.
  
  
  RESULTS
  RAMRIS synovitis (range 2-9), BME (range 0-39) and the dynamic parameters reflecting the number of enhancing voxels were significantly correlated, especially when an extended ROI around the wrist was used (ρ = 0.74; P < 0.01 for synovitis and ρ = 0.82; P < 0.01 for BME). The observer spent on average 20 min (range 12-25 min) to perform RAMRIS, including acquisition of the results in the database, and 8 min (range 7-10 min) to perform all above-mentioned computer-aided analyses.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Computer-aided analysis of DCE-MRI data correlated with RAMRIS synovitis and BME and was twice as fast to perform. This technique may be useful for quick semi-automated assessment of joint inflammation, but needs further validation.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, Frederiksberg Hospital, Nordrefasanvej 57, Frederiksberg Hospital, 2000 Frederiksberg, Denmark. mikael.boesen@gmail.com
authors.forename: Mikael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Boesen
authors.forename: Olga
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Kubassova
authors.forename: Rasmus
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Bouert
authors.forename: Mette B
authors.initials: MB
authors.lastname: Axelsen
authors.forename: Mikkel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ostergaard
authors.forename: Marco A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Cimmino
authors.forename: Bente
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Danneskiold-Samsøe
authors.forename: Kim
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Hørslev-Petersen
authors.forename: Henning
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bliddal
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001855:Bone Marrow Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D003287:Contrast Media; D004487:Edema / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D004812:Epidemiologic Methods; D005682:Gadolinium; D006801:Humans; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted / Q000379:methods; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008875:Middle Aged; D013585:Synovitis / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000209:etiology; D014955:Wrist Joint / Q000473:pathology*; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D003287:Contrast Media; D005682:Gadolinium