title: EULAR recommendations for the use of imaging of the joints in the clinical management of rheumatoid arthritis.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To develop evidence-based recommendations on the use of imaging of the joints in the clinical management of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).
  
  
  METHODS
  The task force comprised an expert group of rheumatologists, radiologists, methodologists and experienced rheumatology practitioners from 13 countries. Thirteen key questions on the role of imaging in RA were generated using a process of discussion and consensus. Imaging modalities included were conventional radiography, ultrasound, MRI, CT, dual-emission x-ray absorptiometry, digital x-ray radiogrammetry, scintigraphy and positron emission tomography. Research evidence was searched systematically for each question using MEDLINE, EMBASE and Cochrane CENTRAL. The experts used the evidence obtained from the relevant studies to develop a set of 10 recommendations. The strength of recommendation was assessed using a visual analogue scale.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 6888 references was identified from the search process, from which 199 studies were included in the systematic review. Ten recommendations were produced encompassing the role of imaging in making a diagnosis of RA, detecting inflammation and damage, predicting outcome and response to treatment, monitoring disease activity, progression and remission. The strength of recommendation for each proposition varied according to both the research evidence and expert opinion.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Ten key recommendations for the role of imaging in the management of RA were developed using research-based evidence and expert opinion.
authors.affiliation: Department of Rheumatology, University Hospital Southampton, Southampton, UK.
authors.forename: Alexandra N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: Colebatch
authors.forename: Christopher John
authors.initials: CJ
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: Mikkel
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Østergaard
authors.forename: Désirée
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: van der Heijde
authors.forename: Peter V
authors.initials: PV
authors.lastname: Balint
authors.forename: Maria-Antonietta
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: D'Agostino
authors.forename: Kristina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Forslind
authors.forename: Walter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Grassi
authors.forename: Espen A
authors.initials: EA
authors.lastname: Haavardsholm
authors.forename: Glenn
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Haugeberg
authors.forename: Anne-Grethe
authors.initials: AG
authors.lastname: Jurik
authors.forename: Robert B M
authors.initials: RB
authors.lastname: Landewé
authors.forename: Esperanza
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Naredo
authors.forename: Philip J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: O'Connor
authors.forename: Ben
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Ostendorf
authors.forename: Kristina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Potocki
authors.forename: Wolfgang A
authors.initials: WA
authors.lastname: Schmidt
authors.forename: Josef S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Smolen
authors.forename: Sekib
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Sokolovic
authors.forename: Iain
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Watt
authors.forename: Philip G
authors.initials: PG
authors.lastname: Conaghan
mesh_terms: D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000175:diagnosis*; D001175:Arthrography; D019317:Evidence-Based Medicine; D006801:Humans; D007596:Joints / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D014463:Ultrasonography