title: Rheumatic diseases of the spine: imaging diagnosis.
abstract: Spinal involvement is common both in the spondyloarthritides and in rheumatoid arthritis, in which the cervical segment is selectively affected. Rheumatoid involvement of the cervical spine has characteristic radiologic manifestations, fundamentally different patterns of atlantoaxial instability. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is the technique of choice for evaluating the possible repercussions of atlantoaxial instability on the spinal cord and/or nerve roots in patients with rheumatoid arthritis as well as for evaluating parameters indicative of active inflammation, such as bone edema and synovitis. Axial involvement is characteristic in the spondyloarthritides and has distinctive manifestations on plain-film X-rays, which reflect destructive and reparative phenomena. The use of MRI has changed the conception of spondyloarthritis because it is able to directly detect the inflammatory changes that form part of the disease, making it possible to establish the diagnosis early in the disease process, when plain-film X-ray findings are normal (non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis), to assess the prognosis of the disease, and to contribute to treatment planning.
authors.affiliation: Sección de Radiología Músculo-Esquelética, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, ĹHospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, España. Electronic address: jnarvaez@bellvitgehospital.cat.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Narváez
authors.affiliation: Sección de Radiología Músculo-Esquelética, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, ĹHospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hernández-Gañán
authors.affiliation: Sección de Radiología Músculo-Esquelética, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, ĹHospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Isern
authors.affiliation: Institut de Diagnòstic per la Imatge, Hospital Universitari de Bellvitge, ĹHospitalet de Llobregat, Barcelona, España.
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Sánchez-Fernández
mesh_terms: D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D002574:Cervical Vertebrae / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D011859:Radiography; D025241:Spondylarthritis / Q000150:complications / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*
keywords: Artritis reumatoide; Axial spondyloarthritis; Computed tomography; Espondiloartritis axial; Magnetic resonance imaging; Resonancia magnética; Rheumatoid arthritis; Tomografía computarizada