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Imaging in Juvenile Spondyloarthritis

  • Spondyloarthritis (M Khan, Section Editor)
  • Published:
Current Rheumatology Reports Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

Purpose of Review

This review aims to provide an update on the use of imaging in the assessment of juvenile spondyloarthritis (JSpA) disease manifestations.

Recent Findings

Recent studies have demonstrated superior reliability and specificity of MRI for assessment of sacroiliac joint inflammation compared with radiography. The use of gadolinium contrast may not add incremental value to the assessment of inflammatory sacroiliitis. Sacroiliitis is common at diagnosis of spondyloarthritis. Inflammatory changes of the lumbar spine are not uncommon, and changes over time in the sacroiliac and apophyseal joints may not be concordant. Ultrasonography (US) in turn has been recognized as an excellent imaging technique to visualize the peripheral manifestations of JSpA. US does not only add important information to the clinical assessment but also helps to understand the complexity of the enthesis. Recognition of specific aspects in children is important though. The standardization of image acquisition as well as the establishment of the evidence base are underway.

Summary

MRI and ultrasonography are recognized as increasingly important tools in the diagnosis and management of juvenile spondyloarthritis.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Pamela F. Weiss

  2. Division of Rheumatology, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Pamela F. Weiss

  3. Department of Radiology, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Philadelphia, PA, USA

    Nancy A. Chauvin

  4. University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada

    Johannes Roth

  5. Division of Pediatric Rheumatology, Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, ON, Canada

    Johannes Roth

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  1. Pamela F. Weiss
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Correspondence to Pamela F. Weiss.

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Pamela F. Weiss, Nancy A. Chauvin, and Johannes Roth declare no conflicts of interest relevant to this manuscript.

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This article does not contain any studies with human or animal subjects performed by any of the authors.

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This article is part of the Topical Collection on Spondyloarthritis

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Weiss, P.F., Chauvin, N.A. & Roth, J. Imaging in Juvenile Spondyloarthritis. Curr Rheumatol Rep 18, 75 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11926-016-0624-6

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