Work

Imaging of Synovial Inflammation in Osteoarthritis, From the AJR Special Series on Inflammation

Year: 2021

Type: review

Abstract: Synovitis, inflammation of the synovial membrane, is a common manifestation of osteoarthritis (OA) and is recognized to play a role in the complex pathophysiology of OA. Increased recognition of the importance of synovitis in the OA disease process and its potential as a target for treatment has increased the need for noninvasive detection and characterization of synovitis using medical imaging. Numerous imaging methods can assess synovitis involvement in OA with varying sensitivity, specificity, and complexity. This article reviews the role of contrast-enhanced MRI, conventional MRI, novel unenhanced MRI, gray-scale ultrasound (US), and power Doppler US in the assessment of synovitis in patients with OA. The role of imaging in disease evaluation and the challenges of conventional imaging methods are discussed. We also provide an overview of the potential utility of emerging techniques for imaging of early inflammation and molecular inflammatory markers of synovitis, including quantitative MRI, superb microvascular imaging, and PET. The development of therapeutic treatments targeting inflammatory features, particularly in early OA, would greatly increase the importance of these imaging methods for clinical decision-making and evaluation of therapeutic efficacy.

Source: American Journal of Roentgenology

DOI: 10.2214/ajr.21.26170

Authors: Jacob Thoenen, James W. MacKay, Halston J. C. Sandford, Garry E. Gold, Feliks Kogan

Institutions: Stanford Medicine, Stanford University, University of East Anglia, University of Cambridge

Language: English

Topic: Osteoarthritis Treatment and Mechanisms

Subfield: Rheumatology

Field: Medicine

Domain: Health Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: green

Funders: National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases, National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering