The Diagnostic Value Of MRI Findings Of Wrist And Clinical Features In Early Rheumatoid Arthritis

Purpose: To study the appearances of the wrist in magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in early stage rheumatoid arthritis (RA), and to evaluate the value of MRI and clinical symptom and laboratory test in diagnosis of early RA. To study the relationship between MRI appearances and clinical and laboratory .testMaterials and methods: 1. Study object: One hundred and three patients with polyarthralgia who were suspected as RA by clinical were selected, 34 male, 69 female; age range, 19~78 years, mean 42.67 years. Their duration was 1 to 9 months. We selected 8 asymptomatic volunteers as contrast, to observe pre-contrast and post-contrast MRI of normal wrists.2. Examination methods: All the patients underwent radiography and pre-contrast and post-contrast MR examination. 0.2-T MR scanner was used in pre-contrast performed by sequence of SE-T1WI, GW-T2WI and STIR sequence in the coronal and sagittal and axial planes on both wrists. Within one week after per-contrast examination, Enhanced MR examination were performed by a 1.5-T unit (Symphony; Siemens Medical System) with head coil on both wrists, using SE-T1WI-FS sequence. Two phase coronal MR images were obtained 5~10...