Imaging of seronegative spondyloarthritis

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasonography (US) are useful adjuncts in the diagnosis of seronegative spondyloarthritides (SpA); a group of diseases that present early at a stage when radiographic assessment is invariably normal. This chapter will review how MRI and US can be used in the evaluation of early SpA. The diffuse osteitis/enthesitis on MRI may serve as a diagnostic hallmark for SpA spinal disease, but needs confirmatory studies for comparison with other spinal pathologies. MRI is the modality of choice for monitoring axial disease in anti-tumour necrosis factor (TNF) therapy responses in the research environment, but it is not yet certain whether this will be relevant in clinical practice. Anti-TNF therapy may be associated with regression of MRI-determined osteitis, but retardation of associated bony fusion is debatable. MRI and US are still undergoing evaluation for the diagnosis of enthesitis of the appendicular skeleton; US, in particular, shows promise at these sites.

Key words: imaging seronegative spondyloarthritis, MRI, ultrasound, enthesitis