title: Imaging diagnosis of early rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: Early diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis is essential for its proper management. Currently, the initial phase of rheumatoid arthritis is known to provide a window of therapeutic opportunity. Although the diagnosis is primarily clinical, the development and improvement of laboratory and imaging methods have contributed to earlier diagnosis and determination of procedures in early rheumatoid arthritis. In this article, the authors review the role of the major imaging methods used for assessing early rheumatoid arthritis, especially conventional radiography, ultrasonography, and magnetic resonance imaging.
authors.affiliation: Faculdade de Medicina, Universidade de Brasília. liciamhmota@yahoo.com.br
authors.forename: Licia Maria Henrique
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: da Mota
authors.forename: Ieda Maria Magalhães
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Laurindo
authors.forename: Leopoldo Luiz
authors.initials: LL
authors.lastname: dos Santos Neto
authors.forename: Francisco Aires Corrêa
authors.initials: FA
authors.lastname: Lima
authors.forename: Sérgio Lopes
authors.initials: SL
authors.lastname: Viana
authors.forename: Paulo Sérgio
authors.initials: PS
authors.lastname: Mendlovitz
authors.forename: João Luiz
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Fernandes
mesh_terms: D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D011859:Radiography; D014463:Ultrasonography