MRI of the wrist in early rheumatoid arthritis

Abstract

In summary, as effective structure modifying treatments for RA begin to enter mainstream clinical practice, and early aggressive treatment becomes more widespread, the use of conventional radiography for managing patients with RA will continue to diminish. As Benton's report demonstrates, MRI offers a powerful alternative to radiography in this circumstance. It is far more sensitive than radiography for bone erosion in patients with early RA, and can detect pre-erosive features, such as osteitis and synovitis, along with tendonitis and potentially other MRI features that can be used to predict which patients will go on to severe destructive joint damage and irreversible functional disability. Being able to predict this accurately at the time of initial presentation is crucial to effective patient management.