Imaging of juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Part I: Clinical classifications and radiographs
Juvenile idiopathic arthritis is the most common autoimmune systemic disease of the connective tissue affecting individuals at the developmental age. Radiography is the primary modality employed in the diagnostic imaging in order to identify changes typical of this disease entity and rule out oth...
Main Authors: | , , , , |
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Medical Communications Sp. z o.o.
2016-09-01
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Series: | Journal of Ultrasonography |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://jultrason.pl/uploads/dm_artykuly/ultrasonography_66_iss_vb_1.pdf |
Summary: | Juvenile idiopathic arthritis is the most common autoimmune systemic disease of the connective
tissue affecting individuals at the developmental age. Radiography is the primary
modality employed in the diagnostic imaging in order to identify changes typical of this
disease entity and rule out other bone-related pathologies, such as neoplasms, posttraumatic
changes, developmental defects and other forms of arthritis. The standard procedure
involves the performance of comparative joint radiographs in two planes. Radiographic
changes in juvenile idiopathic arthritis are detected in later stages of the disease. Bone
structures are assessed in the first place. Radiographs can also indirectly indicate the presence
of soft tissue inflammation (i.e. in joint cavities, sheaths and bursae) based on swelling
and increased density of the soft tissue as well as dislocation of fat folds. Signs of articular
cartilage defects are also seen in radiographs indirectly – based on joint space width
changes. The first part of the publication presents the classification of juvenile idiopathic
arthritis and discusses its radiographic images. The authors list the affected joints as well
as explain the spectrum and specificity of radiographic signs resulting from inflammatory
changes overlapping with those caused by the maturation of the skeletal system. Moreover,
certain dilemmas associated with the monitoring of the disease are reviewed. The second
part of the publication will explain issues associated with ultrasonography and magnetic
resonance imaging, which are more and more commonly applied in juvenile idiopathic
arthritis for early detection of pathological features as well as the disease complications. |
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ISSN: | 2084-8404 2451-070X |