MRI of the sacroiliac joints: What is and what is not sacroiliitis?

Research output: Contribution to journalReviewResearchpeer-review

Purpose of reviewMRI has, as the only imaging modality, the ability to visualize both the inflammatory and destructive aspects of sacroiliitis and is a crucial element in the diagnosis and classification of axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). However, the MRI appearance of several potential differential diagnoses may resemble axSpA sacroiliitis.Recent findingsThe appearances of sacroiliac joint (SIJ) MRIs of various diseased and healthy populations have recently been intensively studied. BME, the key requirement in the Assessment of Spondyloarthritis international Society (ASAS) definition of a 'MRI positive of sacroiliitis' may also be found in degenerative disease, athletes and healthy persons, and, particularly, postpartum women. Certain pattern of BME (high extent, large depth from articular surface, close relation to other lesion types) as well as the presence of structural lesions, particularly bone erosion, backfill or ankylosis increase the likelihood/specificity of being axSpA. Furthermore, old and novel MRI approaches to best distinguish the sacroiliitis of early axSpA from differential diagnoses have recently been tested and compared.SummarySignificant new and clinically relevant knowledge has been gained, but further research is still needed to optimally distinguish what is and what isn't sacroiliitis.

Original languageEnglish
JournalCurrent Opinion in Rheumatology
Volume32
Issue number4
Pages (from-to)357-364
Number of pages8
ISSN1040-8711
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2020

    Research areas

  • diagnosis, MRI, sacroiliac joint, sacroiliitis, spondyloarthritis

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