Assessing Synovitis and Bone Erosion With Apparent Diffusion Coefficient in Early Stage of Rheumatoid Arthritis

Purpose: The aim of this study was to assess the value of apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) in distinguishing synovitis from joint fluid and bone erosion from cysts. Methods: Twenty-eight patients with suspected rheumatoid arthritis underwent diffusion-weighted imaging and pre– and post–contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging. The mean ADC values were compared between synovitis and joint effusion and between bone erosion and cyst. Results: Mean ADC value of synovitis was significantly lower than that of the joint effusion (2.6 ± 0.37 × 10−3 vs 1.63 ± 0.37 × 10−3 mm2/s, P
Source: Journal of Computer Assisted Tomography - Category: Radiology Tags: Musculoskeletal Radiology Source Type: research