Imaging of juvenile idiopathic arthritis

Abstract

Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is a heterogeneous condition including all forms of chronic arthritis of unknown origin, duration ≥6 weeks and with onset before 16 years of age. It is characterized by chronic synovial inflammation with potential risk of developing progressive joint destruction and serious functional disability [1-4]. It affects around 1 in 1,000 children under the age of 16 [5-8]. Typically, the child presents with a history of morning stiffness, vague pain and one or more swollen joints.