Dynamic magnetic resonance imaging for the evaluation of synovitis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract

OBJECTIVE: To investigate whether the findings of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) reflect rheumatoid synovitis. METHODS: Dynamic imaging enhanced with gadolinium-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid was performed on 10 affected knees of 9 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Changes in signal intensity were correlated with pathologic findings in synovial biopsy specimens obtained during total knee arthroplasty. RESULTS: Enhancement was greater in regions with a higher degree of fibrin exudation, cellular infiltration, villous hypertrophy, vascular proliferation, and granulation formation. CONCLUSION: Dynamic MRI can be used for assessing local disease activity in rheumatoid synovium.