SENSITIVITY OF MAGNETIC-RESONANCE-IMAGING OF THE WRIST IN VERY EARLY RHEUMATOID-ARTHRITIS

The aim of this study was to evaluate magnetic resonance images (MRI) of soft tissue abnormalities in the wrist of RA patients in the early stage of the disease. We performed magnetic resonance imaging of the w rist in 15 patients with early rheumatoid arthritis according to ACR c riteria, of less than 10 months duration (mean duration 4.8 months).No ne of the patients had carpal bone erosions on standard radiography. M RI demonstrated abnormality of the soft tissue in 13 of the 15 cases. On coronal MRI, the sites of involvement of the synovitis were the rec ess of the distal ulnar (9 pts.), the distal radioulnar joint (4 pts.) and the radiocarpal joint (7 pts.). On axial MRI, tendon sheath effus ion of the digital flexor was present in 3 patients. Carpal bone lacun ae were present in only 4 patients. Disease activity was not associate d with the extent of the synovitis on wrist MRI. Our study suggests th at MRI is a sensitive method for the detection of synovitis in early R A.