Axial spondyloarthritis diagnosis: Which imaging modality is best?
German researchers conclude that X-rays should be avoided when MRI is available
Radiography is “inferior” for diagnosis of axial spondyloarthritis and MRI should be used instead if available, German radiologists say.
CT also has advantages although radiation exposure is a drawback, they add.
Their conclusions come from an assessment of images for 163 patients obtained in the SIMACT study.
The participants had already been diagnosed by rheumatologists: 55% with axial spondlyoarthritis, 34% with degenerative or mechanical sacroiliac joint (SIJ) disease, and 11% with non-specific back pain unrelated to the SIJ.
