Abstract
The foot and ankle are commonly involved in a range of arthritides that affect the
joints, bones, and soft tissues. Accurate plain film interpretation can often aid
the diagnosis and monitor disease progression and treatment response. Ultrasound and
MRI afford superior depiction of the soft tissues, and advances over recent years
have centered on early detection of synovitis, enabling earlier diagnosis and treatment.
Advantages and disadvantages of the imaging techniques of radiography, multidetector
computed tomography, ultrasound, and MRI are discussed, as is optimization of these
modalities for the assessment of the anatomically complex joints of the foot and ankle.
Diagnostic features enabling differentiation between rheumatoid arthritis, seronegative
spondyloarthropathies, osteoarthritis, gout, crystal deposition disease, pigmented
villonodular synovitis, Charcot arthropathy, septic arthritis, synovial osteochondromatosis,
hemophilia, and reflex sympathetic dystrophy are also reviewed.
Keywords
imaging - arthritis - foot - ankle
