Abstract

For decades, imaging in rheumatology has been synonymous with conventional radiography. However, new imaging modalities, incl magnetic resonance imaging and ultrasonography but also even newer techniques, have dramatically increased the amount and scope of information obtainable by imaging. In rheumatology, imaging may be used for multiple reasons that include establishing or confirming the diagnosis, determining extent of disease, monitoring change in disease (e.g activity and damage) in clininical practice, assessing therapeutic efficacy in trials, prognostication, selecting patients for specific therapies (e.g. surgery or injections) and identifying complications of disease or treatment. These entirely different contexts may favor different imaging approaches.

This presentation will describe the clinical implications of recent imaging advances, with a focus on the inflammatory joint diseases.