New applications of imaging techniques for monitoring progression of rheumatoid arthritis and predicting outcome

2011 ◽  
Vol 3 (1) ◽  
pp. 107-122 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paul Bird ◽  
Fredrick Joshua
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Imaging Techniques ◽  
Predicting Outcome ◽  
New Applications

GIANT BAKER'S CYST AND PSEUDOTHROMBOPHLEBITIS IN PATIENTS WITH RHEUMATIC DISEASES: A NEW INSIGHT INTO OLD COMPLICATIONS

2013 ◽  
Vol 16 (02) ◽  
pp. 1350009
Author(s):  
Massoud Saghafi ◽  
Azita Azarian
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Rheumatic Diseases ◽  
Imaging Techniques ◽  
Cyst Formation ◽  
Underlying Disease ◽  
Popliteal Cyst ◽  
Baker’S Cyst ◽  
Baker's Cyst ◽  
Study Results ◽  
Prevalent Disease

Background: The knee joint is the most common site for cyst formation. Popliteal cyst may become large and its compressive effects produce complications particularly in subacute and chronic rheumatic diseases. Methods: We evaluated predisposing factors, underlying diseases, complications, course and management of giant Baker's cysts in our patients with rheumatic diseases. Patients with popliteal cysts that extended down lower than inferior level of the popliteal fossa, confirmed by imaging techniques were included in this retrospective study. Results: A total of 40 patients had giant Baker's cysts during last 20 years. Rheumatoid arthritis was the most prevalent disease in 21 patients (52.5%). Our cases included a large series of patients with seronegative spondyloarthropathies complicated with giant Baker's cyst in 10 patients (25%). Localized bulging, pain and tenderness of the calf region were observed in 15 patients (37.5%). A total of 25 patients had symptoms and signs similar to thrombophlebitis (62.5%). Rupture of Baker's cyst was detected in 10 patients (25%). A patient had giant Baker's cyst concurrent with thrombophlebitis. Management was mostly conservative including rest and intra-articular depoglucocorticoid injection with satisfactory results. Conclusions: In this study, rheumatoid arthritis was the most prevalent underlying disease and the pseudothrombophlebitis syndrome was the most prevalent presenting feature of patients with giant Baker's cysts.

scholarly journals Reasons for discordances between ultrasonography and magnetic resonance imaging in the evaluation of the ankle, hindfoot and heel of the patients with rheumatoid arthritis

2019 ◽  
Vol 21 (4) ◽  
pp. 405 ◽  
Author(s):  
Oana Șerban ◽  
Daniela Fodor ◽  
Iulia Papp ◽  
Mihaela Cosmina Micu ◽  
Dan Gabriel Duma ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Magnetic Resonance Imaging ◽  
Magnetic Resonance ◽  
Disease Activity ◽  
Activity Index ◽  
Imaging Techniques ◽  
Disease Activity Index ◽  
Resonance Imaging ◽  
Magnetic Resonance Imaging Mri ◽  
Definition Of

Aim: To compare the ultrasonography (US) performance with magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in identifying pathology in ankles, hindfeet and heels of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients and to evaluate the reasons for discordances between the two imaging methods.Material and methods: RA patients were enrolled and evaluated using the Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI) and the Disease Activity Score 28 with C-reactive Protein (DAS28-CRP). The ankle (tibiotalar joint, tendons), hindfoot (talonavicular, subtalar joints) and heel of the most symptomatic or dominant foot (for the asymptomatic patient)were evaluated by two pairs of examiners using US and contrast-enhanced MRI.Results: Totally, 105 joints, 245 tendons and 35 heels in 35 patients [mean age 59.2±11.25 years old, median disease duration 36 (16.5-114), mean CDAI 19.87±12.7] were evaluated. The interobserver agreements between the two sonographers, and the two radiologists were good and very good (k=0.624-0.940). The overall agreement between US and MRI was very good for subcalcaneal panniculitis (k=0.928, p<0.001), moderate for synovitis (k=0.463, p<0.001) and tenosynovitis (k=0.514, p<0.001), fair for osteophytes (k=0.260, p=0.004), and poor for erosions (k=0.063, p=0.308) and heel’s structures. MRI found more erosions, synovitis, osteophytes,tenosynovitis and retrocalcaneal bursitis, but US found more enthesophytes and plantar fasciitis. Many of the discordancesbetween the two imaging techniques have explanations related to the technique itself or definition of the pathologic findings.Conclusions: US is comparable to MRI for the evaluation of ankle, hindfoot and heel in RA patients and discordances in theinterpretation of the pathological findings/normal structures must be carefully analyzed.

scholarly journals Significance of 5-S-Cysteinyldopa as a Marker for Melanoma

2020 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 432 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kazumasa Wakamatsu ◽  
Satoshi Fukushima ◽  
Akane Minagawa ◽  
Toshikazu Omodaka ◽  
Tokimasa Hida ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Early Detection ◽  
Imaging Techniques ◽  
Primary Melanoma ◽  
Urinary Biomarkers ◽  
Prognostic Indicators ◽  
Main Concern ◽  
Sample Collection ◽  
Diagnosis And Prognosis ◽  
Recent Developments ◽  
New Applications

Melanoma is one of the most lethal and malignant cancers and its incidence is increasing worldwide, and Japan is not an exception. Although there are numerous therapeutic options for melanoma, the prognosis is still poor once it has metastasized. The main concern after removal of a primary melanoma is whether it has metastasized, and early detection of metastatic melanoma would be effective in improving the prognosis of patients. Thus, it is very important to identify reliable methods to detect metastases as early as possible. Although many prognostic biomarkers (mainly for metastases) of melanoma have been reported, there are very few effective for an early diagnosis. Serum and urinary biomarkers for melanoma diagnosis have especially received great interest because of the relative ease of sample collection and handling. Several serum and urinary biomarkers appear to have significant potential both as prognostic indicators and as targets for future therapeutic methods, but still there are no efficient serum and urinary biomarkers for early detection, accurate diagnosis and prognosis, efficient monitoring of the disease and reliable prediction of survival and recurrence. Levels of 5-S-cysteinyldopa (5SCD) in the serum or urine as biomarkers of melanoma have been found to be significantly elevated earlier and to reflect melanoma progression better than physical examinations, laboratory tests and imaging techniques, such as scintigraphy and echography. With recent developments in the treatment of melanoma, studies reporting combinations of 5SCD levels and new applications for the treatment of melanoma are gradually increasing. This review summarizes the usefulness of 5SCD, the most widely used and well-known melanoma marker in the serum and urine, compares 5SCD and other useful markers, and finally its application to other fields.

scholarly journals Assessment of synovitis to predict bone erosions in rheumatoid arthritis

2012 ◽  
Vol 4 (4) ◽  
pp. 235-244 ◽  
Author(s):  
Serena Bugatti ◽  
Antonio Manzo ◽  
Roberto Caporali ◽  
Carlomaurizio Montecucco
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Progressive Disease ◽  
Imaging Techniques ◽  
Joint Destruction ◽  
Joint Damage ◽  
Assessment Tools ◽  
Rapid Progression ◽  
Radiographic Outcomes ◽  
Clinical Measures ◽  
Synovial Tissue Analysis

Although rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is traditionally considered as the prototype of destructive arthritis, the course of the disease varies considerably, with some patients experiencing more rapid progression of joint damage and disability than others. Given the increasing availability of treatment targets and options, timely recognition of individual’s outcomes could allow therapeutic allocation according to personalized benefit–risk profiles. Research efforts are thus increasingly focused at discovering predictive markers that could identify patients with aggressive, rapidly progressive disease and poor prognosis. As joint destruction in RA is the result of the cumulative burden of inflammation, variables reflecting the severity of synovitis and its persistence over time might refine our ability to build early prognostic algorithms. The goal of this article is to review the clinical implications of the assessment of synovitis in relation to radiographic outcomes. Traditional and novel assessment tools will be discussed, including clinical measures, imaging techniques and tissue biomarkers. Achievements in the field of synovial tissue analysis and peripheral blood biomarkers of synovitis represent only the first steps of ongoing progress, which still need to be integrated into the phenotypic heterogeneity of RA.

scholarly journals Computerized Digital Imaging Techniques Provided by Digital X-ray Radiogrammetry as New Diagnostic Tool in Rheumatoid Arthritis

2006 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 279-288 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joachim Böttcher ◽  
Alexander Pfeil ◽  
Anders Rosholm ◽  
Max-Ludwig Schäfer ◽  
Ansgar Malich ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Diagnostic Tool ◽  
Digital Imaging ◽  
Imaging Techniques ◽  
X Ray

Antibodies to citrullinated α-enolase peptide 1 and clinical and radiological outcomes in rheumatoid arthritis

2011 ◽  
Vol 70 (6) ◽  
pp. 1095-1098 ◽  
Author(s):  
Benjamin A Fisher ◽  
Darren Plant ◽  
Monica Brode ◽  
Ronald F van Vollenhoven ◽  
Linda Mathsson ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Rheumatoid Arthritis ◽  
Health Assessment ◽  
Joint Disease ◽  
Tender Joint ◽  
Reactive Protein ◽  
Citrullinated Proteins ◽  
Predicting Outcome ◽  
Prospective Cohorts ◽  
Analogue Scales ◽  
Assessment Questionnaire

IntroductionThe anticyclic citrullinated peptide 2 (anti-CCP2) assay is a generic test for antibodies to citrullinated proteins, among which there is a subset of about 50% with antibodies to citrullinated enolase peptide 1 (CEP-1). The anti-CEP-1 positive subset is strongly associated with the HLA-DRB1 shared epitope and its interaction with smoking.ObjectiveTo investigate whether anti-CEP-1 antibodies may be helpful in predicting outcome.MethodsAnti-CEP-1 and anti-CCP2 antibodies were measured in two prospective cohorts of patients (Karolinska n=272, Norfolk Arthritis Register (NOAR) n=408) with early rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Outcomes measured were C-reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate, visual analogue scales for pain and global assessment of disease activity, Health Assessment Questionnaire, physician's assessment, swollen and tender joint counts and radiological progression.ResultsAnti-CCP2 antibodies were present in 57% and 50%, and anti-CEP-1 in 27% and 24% of the Karolinska and NOAR cohorts, respectively. Importantly, no statistically significant differences in clinical outcomes were demonstrated between the anti-CEP-1−/CCP2+ and the anti-CEP-1+/CCP2+ subsets in either cohort, or in radiological outcomes in the Karolinska cohort.ConclusionAlthough antibodies to specific citrullinated proteins may have distinct genetic and environmental risk factors, the similarity in clinical phenotype suggests that they share common pathways in the pathogenesis of joint disease in RA.

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