Arthritis in Children: Conventional and Advanced Imaging

ABSTRACT

Imaging is crucial for the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of arthritis. Plain radiography is the primary tool used to assess and monitor the progression of arthritis or its response to therapy. The newer imaging modalities offer a more complete assessment of the joints in health and disease. Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging with gadolinium administration allows direct visualization of the inflamed synovium and pannus. With MR imaging articular cartilage can be seen as well as joint effusion and hemosiderin, if present. Small (and large) joint effusions are readily revealed using ultrasonography, which is a relatively easy and inexpensive technique.

KEYWORDS

Arthritis - pediatric age group - imaging modalities

REFERENCES

• 1 Schaller J G. Arthritis in children.  Pediatr Clin North Am . 1986;  33 1565-1580
• 2 Rönning O, Väliaho M L. Involvement of the facial skeleton in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.  Ann Radiol . 1975;  18 347-353
• 3 Ansell B M. Arthritis in children.  Med North Am . 1981;  15 1487-1492
• 4 Azouz E M, Duffy C M. Juvenile spondyloarthropathies: clinical manifestations and medical imaging.  Skeletal Radiol . 1995;  24 399-408
• 5 Scuccimarri R, Azouz E M, Duffy K NW, Fassier F, Duffy C M. Inflammatory arthritis in children with osteochondrodysplasias.  Ann Rheum Dis . 2000;  59 864-869
• 6 Wilkinson R H, Weissman B N. Arthritis in children.  Radiol Clin North Am . 1988;  26 1247-1265
• 7 Wihlborg C, Babyn P, Ranson M, Laxer R. Radiologic mimics of juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.  Pediatr Radiol . 2001;  31 315-326
• 8 Schmit P, Prieur A M, Brunelle F. Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis and lymphoedema: lymphangiographic aspects.  Pediatr Radiol . 1999;  29 364-366
• 9 Hahn T J, Hahn B H. Osteopenia in patients with rheumatic diseases: principles of diagnosis and therapy.  Semin Arthritis Rheum . 1976;  6 165-188
• 10 Poznanski A K. Radiological approaches to pediatric joint disease.  J Rheumatol . 1992;  19(suppl) 78-93
• 11 Al-Mayouf S M, Babyn P, Schneider R. et al . Patellar enthesopathy in childhood: a new clinical and radiographic observation.  J Rheumatol . 1997;  24 1186-1188
• 12 Gylys-Morin V M. MR imaging of pediatric musculoskeletal inflammatory and infectious disorders.  Magn Reson Imag Clin North Am . 1998;  6 537-559
• 13 Gilsanz V, Bernstein B H. Joint calcification following intraarticular corticosteroid therapy.  Radiology . 1984;  151 647-649
• 14 Oudjhane K, Azouz E M, Hughes S, Paquin J D. Computed tomography of the sacroiliac joints in children.  Can Assoc Radiol J . 1993;  44 313-314
• 15 Yu W, Feng F, Dion E, Yan H, Jiang M, Genant H K. Comparison of radiography, computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging in the detection of sacroiliitis accompanying ankylosing spondylitis.  Skeletal Radiol . 1998;  27 311-321
• 16 Eich G F, Hallé F, Hodler J, Seger R, Willi U V. Juvenile chronic arthritis: imaging of the knees and hips before and after intraarticular steroid injection.  Pediatr Radiol . 1994;  24 558-563
• 17 Hervé-Somma C MP, Sebag G H, Prieur A M, Bonnerot V, Lallemand P. Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis of the knee: MR evaluation with Gd-DOTA.  Radiology . 1992;  182 93-98
• 18 Azouz E M, Oudjhane K. Disorders of the upper extremity in children.  Magn Reson Imag Clin North Am . 1998;  6 677-695
• 19 Rennebohm R M, Towbin R B, Crowe W E, Levinson J E. Popliteal cysts in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.  Am J Roentgenol . 1983;  140 123-125
• 20 Chung C, Coley B D, Martin L C. Rice bodies in juvenile rheumatoid arthritis.  Am J Roentgenol . 1998;  170 698-700
• 21 Greenspan A, Azouz E M, Matthews J, Décarie J C. Synovial hemangioma: imaging features in eight histologically proven cases, review of the literature, and differential diagnosis.  Skeletal Radiol . 1995;  24 583-590