MRI OF THE HAND IN PSORIATIC AND RHEUMATICAL ARTHRITIS

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) of the hand in patients with psoriati c arthritis (PA) was evaluated and compared with MRI of the hand in pa tients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Both MRI and X-ray examinations of the hands were performed in 28 PA patients and 18 RA patients. The MRI showed a PA pattern characterized by a more pronounced soft tissu e swelling as compared with RA patients. Diffuse and pronounced periar ticular oedema that spread to the subcutis was evident in 24 (85.7%) P A patients. Subchondral changes were characteristic of PA patients, an d were observed in 12 of 28 PA patients (42.8%). In these cases, conve ntional X-ray examination failed to show any bone change. These two ch anges were not seen in RA patients. Our preliminary results indicate t hat MRI might play a role in differential diagnosis between PA and RA especially in the early phase of the disease in which conventional rad iological examination is negative.