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Ključevšek D, Potočnik Tumpaj V, Gazikalović A. The role of radiography in diagnosing, monitoring and prognosing juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Pediatr Radiol 2024; 54:481-489. [PMID: 37640799 DOI: 10.1007/s00247-023-05742-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/25/2023] [Revised: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 08/02/2023] [Indexed: 08/31/2023]
Abstract
The current role of conventional radiography in the diagnosis, monitoring and prognosis of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is reviewed, as its role has changed with the increasing use of ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging, as well as with the introduction of biological drugs. Conventional radiography does not play an important role in the diagnosis of JIA, as this is based on history, clinical examination and laboratory findings. The main role of conventional radiography is in the detection and monitoring of growth disorders and chronic structural and morphological changes of the affected joints and bones, in addition to helping with the differential diagnosis of conditions that mimic JIA. Radiographic changes of the joints depend on the age of the child, the type and duration of arthritis and the specific joints affected. There are no standard protocols for arthritis monitoring and most indications for imaging are based on individual case-by-case decisions. The development of degenerative joint changes is considered a poor predictive factor, but there are no clear studies that more precisely define the predictive value of radiographic changes. Conventional radiography remains an important imaging modality in narrowing the differential diagnosis and in evaluating growth disorders and the developing destructive joint changes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Damjana Ključevšek
- Department of Radiology, University Children's Hospital Ljubljana, University Medical Center Ljubljana, Bohoričeva 20, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
- Department of Radiology, Medical Faculty, University of Ljubljana, Ljubljana, Slovenia.
| | - Vesna Potočnik Tumpaj
- Department of Radiology, General hospital of Slovenj Gradec, Slovenj Gradec, Slovenia
| | - Ana Gazikalović
- Department of Radiology, University Children's Hospital Ljubljana, University Medical Center Ljubljana, Bohoričeva 20, 1000, Ljubljana, Slovenia
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MacDonald D, Patel A, Zou B, Yen E, Vora SR. A retrospective study of incidental findings occurring in a consecutive case series of lateral cephalograms of 12- to 20-year-old patients referred for routine orthodontic treatment. Imaging Sci Dent 2022; 52:295-302. [PMID: 36238700 PMCID: PMC9530292 DOI: 10.5624/isd.20220402] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/02/2022] [Revised: 04/28/2022] [Accepted: 05/06/2022] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
Purpose Lateral cephalograms of orthodontic patients may contain incidental findings that could potentially lead to harm. Materials and Methods The lateral cephalograms of 1765 consecutive 12- to 20-year-old patients, being considered for routine orthodontic treatment, were retrospectively reviewed. These patients were considered normal, because no abnormalities were found either in their medical history or on their clinical examination. Results The overall prevalence of incidental findings was 18.8%, of which 10.3% were ponticulus posticus and 4.2% were bridging of the sella turcica. Although occipital spurs and ponticulus posticus were more prevalent in males, the size of the sella turcicas did not differ between sexes. Of the 1156 patients completing treatment about 2 years later, only one lateral cephalogram displayed progression of the ponticulus posticus in that time. Conclusion The prevalence of incidental findings on lateral cephalograms of otherwise normal orthodontic 12- to 20-year-old patients was almost a fifth, of which ponticulus posticus, vertebral fusion, and enlarged parietal foramina were clinically significant.
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Affiliation(s)
- David MacDonald
- Division of Oral and Maxillofacial Radiology, Faculty of Dentistry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Akash Patel
- Division of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Bingshuang Zou
- Division of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Edwin Yen
- Division of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
| | - Siddharth R. Vora
- Division of Orthodontics, Faculty of Dentistry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
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Kotecki M, Gietka P, Posadzy M, Sudoł-Szopińska I. Radiographs and MRI of the Cervical Spine in Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis: A Cross-Sectional Retrospective Study. J Clin Med 2021; 10:5798. [PMID: 34945094 PMCID: PMC8704570 DOI: 10.3390/jcm10245798] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/16/2021] [Revised: 12/05/2021] [Accepted: 12/08/2021] [Indexed: 11/22/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is the most common rheumatic disease among children. In some patients, cervical spine arthritis remains a serious and chronic manifestation of JIA. The aim of this study was to assess the frequency of cervical spine lesions on radiographs and MRI in JIA patients with clinical signs of cervical spine involvement and to verify if with the addition of MRI, the use of radiographs could be abandoned. METHODS This retrospective study evaluated consecutive 34 children (25 girls; aged 6-18 years, median 15.5 years) with JIA and with clinical involvement of cervical spine. In each patient, both radiographs and MRI of the cervical spine were performed. Imaging findings were correlated with clinical and laboratory data. RESULTS The cervical spine was affected in 35% of patients. The most frequent lesions were subaxial subluxations (SAS; 24%), apophyseal joint ankylosis (9%), and C1/C2 joint lesions (9%). Anterior atlanto-axial subluxation (AAS) was diagnosed only by radiography, and most of the SAS were seen on radiography, whereas only a few on MRI. Reversely, C1/C2 soft tissue involvement were seen on MRI only. Cervical spine involvement was associated with raised ESR (p = 0.012) and CRP (p = 0.014). CONCLUSIONS The cervical spine lesions are still frequent complication of JIA affecting up to 35% of JIA patients. Most of them develop serious complications, such as AAS and ankylosis. Despite advantages of MRI in terms of the imaging of the atlanto-axial region radiography shows superiority in diagnosis of AAS and SAS.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mateusz Kotecki
- Department of Radiology, National Institute of Geriatrics, Rheumatology and Rehabilitation, 02-637 Warsaw, Poland;
| | - Piotr Gietka
- Department of Pediatric Rheumatology, National Institute of Geriatrics, Rheumatology and Rehabilitation, 02-637 Warsaw, Poland;
| | - Magdalena Posadzy
- Individual Private Practice Magdalena Posadzy, 61-426 Poznan, Poland;
| | - Iwona Sudoł-Szopińska
- Department of Radiology, National Institute of Geriatrics, Rheumatology and Rehabilitation, 02-637 Warsaw, Poland;
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Riccomi G, Minozzi S, Aringhieri G, Giuffra V. A possible case of juvenile idiopathic arthritis from Renaissance Lucca (Tuscany, central Italy). INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF PALEOPATHOLOGY 2021; 33:72-83. [PMID: 33744835 DOI: 10.1016/j.ijpp.2021.03.002] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2020] [Revised: 03/03/2021] [Accepted: 03/12/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVE The skeletal remains of a young individual (Guinigi US 1278) are described and a differential diagnosis is performed to determine the potential etiology of bone alterations. MATERIALS Archaeological excavations conducted at the private funerary chapel of the upper class members of the Guinigi family (14th-17th centuries AD) of Lucca (Tuscany, central Italy) brought to light the fragmented human skeletal remains of a young individual (Guinigi US 1278) with pathological osseous modifications. METHODS Morphological and radiological analyses were followed by differential diagnosis. RESULTS Guinigi US 1278 was a non-adult aged 16-20 years, who exhibited florid skeletal alterations in the form of vertebral fusion and extensive subchondral bone changes of the small and large joints of the appendicular skeleton. The severity of the resorptive process in the peripheral joints, as well as vertebral fusion, indicates a long-standing inflammatory process. CONCLUSIONS The features and the distribution of the skeletal lesions of Guinigi US 1278 are highly consistent with a form of juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), leading to irreversible phenomena such as subchondral erosive lesions and axial ankylosis, with impairment of the gait and neck movements. SIGNIFICANCE While abundant clinical literature on JIA is available, paleopathological studies are scarce. The possible case of JIA from Lucca provides a direct opportunity to examine the chronic course of rheumatic disease in young individuals in the absence of appropriate medical therapies in the antiquity. SUGGESTIONS FOR FURTHER RESEARCH Future molecular analyses might be able to identify specific alleles of the HLA region responsible for JIA subtypes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Giulia Riccomi
- Division of Paleopathology, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Italy.
| | - Simona Minozzi
- Division of Paleopathology, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Italy
| | - Giacomo Aringhieri
- Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Italy
| | - Valentina Giuffra
- Division of Paleopathology, Department of Translational Research and New Technologies in Medicine and Surgery, University of Pisa, Italy
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Malattia C, Tolend M, Mazzoni M, Panwar J, Zlotnik M, Otobo T, Vidarsson L, Doria AS. Current status of MR imaging of juvenile idiopathic arthritis. Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol 2020; 34:101629. [PMID: 33281052 DOI: 10.1016/j.berh.2020.101629] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/11/2022]
Abstract
Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is the most common chronic arthropathy in the pediatric population. Although the diagnosis is essentially clinical for many affected joints, MR imaging has become an important tool for the assessment of joints that are difficult to evaluate clinically, such as temporomandibular and sacroiliac joints, and for screening of inflammatory changes in the entire body by whole body MRI (WBMRI) assessment. The utilization of MR imaging is challenging in the pediatric population given the need for discrimination between pathological and physiological changes in the growing skeleton. Several multicentric multidisciplinary organizations have made major efforts over the past decades to standardize, quantify, and validate scoring systems to measure joint changes both cross-sectionally and longitudinally according to rigorous methodological standards. In this paper, we (1) discuss current trends for the diagnosis and management of JIA, (2) review challenges for detecting real pathological changes in growing joints, (3) summarize the current status of standardization of MRI protocols for data acquisition and the quantification of joint pathology in JIA by means of scoring systems, and (4) outline novel MR imaging techniques for the evaluation of anatomy and function of joints in JIA. Optimizing the role of MRI as a robust biomarker and outcome measure remains a priority of future research in this field.
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Affiliation(s)
- Clara Malattia
- Clinica Pediatrica e Reumatologia, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy; Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetic and Maternal Infantile Sciences (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, Italy
| | - Mirkamal Tolend
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Marta Mazzoni
- Clinica Pediatrica e Reumatologia, Istituto Giannina Gaslini, Genoa, Italy; Department of Neurosciences, Rehabilitation, Ophthalmology, Genetic and Maternal Infantile Sciences (DINOGMI), University of Genoa, Italy
| | - Jyoti Panwar
- Department of Radiology, Christian Medical College, Vellore, India
| | - Margalit Zlotnik
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Tarimobo Otobo
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Logi Vidarsson
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada
| | - Andrea S Doria
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Research Institute, The Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, ON, Canada; Department of Medical Imaging, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
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Hemke R, Herregods N, Jaremko JL, Åström G, Avenarius D, Becce F, Bielecki DK, Boesen M, Dalili D, Giraudo C, Hermann KG, Humphries P, Isaac A, Jurik AG, Klauser AS, Kvist O, Laloo F, Maas M, Mester A, Oei E, Offiah AC, Omoumi P, Papakonstantinou O, Plagou A, Shelmerdine S, Simoni P, Sudoł-Szopińska I, Tanturri de Horatio L, Teh J, Jans L, Rosendahl K. Imaging assessment of children presenting with suspected or known juvenile idiopathic arthritis: ESSR-ESPR points to consider. Eur Radiol 2020; 30:5237-5249. [PMID: 32399709 PMCID: PMC7476913 DOI: 10.1007/s00330-020-06807-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/20/2019] [Revised: 02/08/2020] [Accepted: 03/12/2020] [Indexed: 12/17/2022]
Abstract
Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is the most common paediatric rheumatic disease. It represents a group of heterogenous inflammatory disorders with unknown origin and is a diagnosis of exclusion in which imaging plays an important role. JIA is defined as arthritis of one or more joints that begins before the age of 16 years, persists for more than 6 weeks and is of unknown aetiology and pathophysiology. The clinical goal is early suppression of inflammation to prevent irreversible joint damage which has shifted the emphasis from detecting established joint damage to proactively detecting inflammatory change. This drives the need for imaging techniques that are more sensitive than conventional radiography in the evaluation of inflammatory processes as well as early osteochondral change. Physical examination has limited reliability, even if performed by an experienced clinician, emphasising the importance of imaging to aid in clinical decision-making. On behalf of the European Society of Musculoskeletal Radiology (ESSR) arthritis subcommittee and the European Society of Paediatric Radiology (ESPR) musculoskeletal imaging taskforce, based on literature review and/or expert opinion, we discuss paediatric-specific imaging characteristics of the most commonly involved, in literature best documented and clinically important joints in JIA, namely the temporomandibular joints (TMJs), spine, sacroiliac (SI) joints, wrists, hips and knees, followed by a clinically applicable point to consider for each joint. We will also touch upon controversies in the current literature that remain to be resolved with ongoing research. KEY POINTS: • Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) is the most common chronic paediatric rheumatic disease and, in JIA imaging, is increasingly important to aid in clinical decision-making. • Conventional radiographs have a lower sensitivity and specificity for detection of disease activity and early destructive change, as compared to MRI or ultrasound. Nonetheless, radiography remains important, particularly in narrowing the differential diagnosis and evaluating growth disturbances. • Mainly in peripheral joints, ultrasound can be helpful for assessment of inflammation and guiding joint injections. In JIA, MRI is the most validated technique. MRI should be considered as the modality of choice to assess the axial skeleton or where the clinical presentation overlaps with JIA.
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Affiliation(s)
- Robert Hemke
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.
| | - Nele Herregods
- Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Jacob L Jaremko
- Department of Radiology and Diagnostic Imaging, Faculty of Medicine and Dentistry, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Canada
| | - Gunnar Åström
- Department of Radiology, Uppsala University, Uppsala, Sweden
| | - Derk Avenarius
- Department of Radiology, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway
| | - Fabio Becce
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Dennis K Bielecki
- Department of Diagnostic Imaging, Kings College Hospital, London, UK
| | - Mikael Boesen
- Department of Radiology, Bispebjerg and Frederiksberg Hospital, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Danoob Dalili
- Department of Radiology, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK
| | - Chiara Giraudo
- Radiology Institute, Department of Medicine - DIMED, Padova University, Padua, Italy
| | - Kay-Geert Hermann
- Department of Radiology, University Hospital Charité, Berlin, Germany
| | - Paul Humphries
- Department of Radiology, Great Ormond Street Hospital, London, UK
| | - Amanda Isaac
- Department of Radiology, Guy's & St Thomas Hospitals, London, UK
| | - Anne Grethe Jurik
- Department of Radiology, Aarhus University Hospital, Aarhus, Denmark
| | - Andrea S Klauser
- Department of Radiology, Medical University of Innsbruck, Innsbruck, Austria
| | - Ola Kvist
- Department of Paediatric Radiology, Karolinska University Hospital, Stockholm, Sweden
| | - Frederiek Laloo
- Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Mario Maas
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Amsterdam University Medical Centers, Amsterdam Movement Sciences, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, Meibergdreef 9, 1105 AZ, Amsterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Adam Mester
- Department of Radiology, National Institute of Rheumatology and Physiotherapy, Budapest, Hungary
| | - Edwin Oei
- Department of Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, Erasmus University Medical Center (Erasmus MC), Rotterdam, The Netherlands
| | - Amaka C Offiah
- Academic Unit of Child Health, University of Sheffield, Western Bank, Sheffield, UK
| | - Patrick Omoumi
- Department of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Lausanne University Hospital, Lausanne, Switzerland
| | | | | | | | - Paolo Simoni
- Department of Radiology, Reine Fabiola Children's University Hospital of Bruxelles, University of Bruxelles, Brussels, Belgium
| | - Iwona Sudoł-Szopińska
- Department of Radiology, National Institute of Geriatrics, Rheumatology and Rehabilitation and Department of Medical Imaging, Medical University of Warsaw, Warsaw, Poland
| | | | - James Teh
- Department of Radiology, Nuffield Orthopaedic Centre, Oxford University Hospitals NHS Trust, Oxford, UK
| | - Lennart Jans
- Department of Radiology and Medical Imaging, Ghent University Hospital, Ghent, Belgium
| | - Karen Rosendahl
- Department of Radiology, University Hospital of North Norway, Tromsø, Norway
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Abnormalities of the craniovertebral junction in the paediatric population: a novel biomechanical approach. Clin Radiol 2018; 73:839-854. [DOI: 10.1016/j.crad.2018.05.020] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/30/2017] [Accepted: 05/15/2018] [Indexed: 12/20/2022]
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Conventional radiography in juvenile idiopathic arthritis: Joint recommendations from the French societies for rheumatology, radiology and paediatric rheumatology. Eur Radiol 2018; 28:3963-3976. [PMID: 29582130 PMCID: PMC6096609 DOI: 10.1007/s00330-018-5304-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/29/2017] [Revised: 12/03/2017] [Accepted: 01/02/2018] [Indexed: 10/29/2022]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) can cause structural damage. However, data on conventional radiography (CR) in JIA are scant. OBJECTIVE To provide pragmatic guidelines on CR in each non-systemic JIA subtype. METHODS A multidisciplinary task force of 16 French experts (rheumatologists, paediatricians, radiologists and one patient representative) formulated research questions on CR assessments in each non-systemic JIA subtype. A systematic literature review was conducted to identify studies providing detailed information on structural joint damage. Recommendations, based on the evidence found, were evaluated using two Delphi rounds and a review by an independent committee. RESULTS 74 original articles were included. The task force developed four principles and 31 recommendations with grades ranging from B to D. The experts felt strongly that patients should be selected for CR based on the risk of structural damage, with routine CR of the hands and feet in rheumatoid factor-positive polyarticular JIA but not in oligoarticular non-extensive JIA. CONCLUSION These first pragmatic recommendations on CR in JIA rely chiefly on expert opinion, given the dearth of scientific evidence. CR deserves to be viewed as a valuable tool in many situations in patients with JIA. KEY POINTS • CR is a valuable imaging technique in selected indications. • CR is routinely recommended for peripheral joints, when damage risk is high. • CR is recommended according to the damage risk, depending on JIA subtype. • CR is not the first-line technique for imaging of the axial skeleton.
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Clinical and MRI outcome of cervical spine lesions in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis treated with anti-TNFα drugs early in disease course. Pediatr Rheumatol Online J 2017; 15:38. [PMID: 28506237 PMCID: PMC5433237 DOI: 10.1186/s12969-017-0173-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2017] [Accepted: 05/10/2017] [Indexed: 12/11/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUNDS The purpose of the study was to evaluate the clinical and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) outcome of cervical spine arthritis in children with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA), who received anti-TNFα early in the course of cervical spine arthritis. METHODS Medical charts and imaging of JIA patients with cervical spine involvement were reviewed in this retrospective study. Data, including age at disease onset, JIA type, disease activity, treatment and clinical outcome were collected. Initial and followup MRI examinations of cervical spine were performed according to the hospital protocol to evaluate the presence of inflammation and potential chronic/late changes. RESULTS Fifteen JIA patients with MRI proved cervical spine inflammation (11 girls, 4 boys, median age 6.3y) were included in the study: 9 had polyarthritis, 3 extended oligoarthritis, 2 persistent oligoarthritis and 1 juvenile psoriatic arthritis. All children were initially treated with high-dose steroids and methotrexate. In addition, 11 patients were treated with anti-TNFα drug within 3 months, and 3 patients within 7 months of cervical spine involvement confirmed by MRI. Mean observation time was 2.9y, mean duration of anti-TNFα treatment was 2.2y. Last MRI showed no active inflammation in 12/15 children, allowing to stop biological treatment in 3 patients, and in 3/15 significant reduction of inflammation. Mild chronic changes were found on MRI in 3 children. CONCLUSIONS Early treatment with anti-TNFα drugs resulted in significantly reduced inflammation or complete remission of cervical spine arthritis proved by MRI, and prevented the development of serious chronic/late changes. Repeated MRI examinations are suggested in the follow-up of JIA patients with cervical spine arthritis.
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Hospach T, Maier J, Müller-Abt P, Patel A, Horneff G, von Kalle T. Cervical spine involvement in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis - MRI follow-up study. Pediatr Rheumatol Online J 2014; 12:9. [PMID: 24593886 PMCID: PMC3975869 DOI: 10.1186/1546-0096-12-9] [Citation(s) in RCA: 30] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Submit a Manuscript] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2013] [Accepted: 02/28/2014] [Indexed: 12/24/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND To describe MRI and clinical findings in patients with juvenile idiopathic arthritis with cervical spine involvement at onset and follow-up under therapy. METHODS 13 patients with signs of cervical spine involvement in juvenile idiopathic arthritis with a median disease duration of 1.7 years were included in the study. Clinical records and MR images were retrospectively analyzed according to symptoms and findings concerning the cervical spine. RESULTS At the onset of cervical spine involvement all patients showed limited range of motion, whereas only 5 of them complained of pain. In MR images joint hyperintensity, contrast enhancement, malalignment, ankylosis, erosion and narrowing of the spinal canal at cranio-cervical junction were found at 28, 32, 15, 2, 2 and 3 sites in 12 (93%), 13 (100%), 8 (62%), 2 (15%), 2 and 3 (20%) patients respectively. 3 of the 5 patients with pain (60%) showed ankylosis, erosions or narrowing of the spinal canal at cranio-cervical junction on MRI. At follow-up - after a median disease duration of cervical spine arthritis of 2.1 years and a variable duration of treatment with methotrexate (all patients) and biological agents (12 patients) - joint hyperintensity, enhancement and malalignment decreased to 15, 19 and 6 sites in 10 (77%), 11 (85%) and 3 (20%) patients respectively whereas ankylosis, erosion and narrowing of the spinal canal at cranio-cervical junction increased to 7, 6 and 4 sites in 3 (20%), 4 (31%) and 4 patients respectively. Pain was no longer reported, but 9 of 13 (69%) patients still had a limited range of motion with 6 of them (46%) showing skeletal changes on MRI. CONCLUSIONS This first MRI based follow-up study shows that cervical spine arthritis can follow a severe disease course in juvenile arthritis. While malalignments and inflammation sites decreased osseous changes with erosions, ankylosis, and narrowing of the spinal canal increased under treatment despite only minor subjective complaints. Therefore close MRI monitoring of these patients appears to be reasonable.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toni Hospach
- Division of Pediatric Rheumatology, Children's Hospital, Olgahospital Stuttgart, teaching hospital of the University of Tuebingen, Bismarckstr, 8, 70176 Stuttgart, Germany.
| | - Jan Maier
- Division of Pediatric Rheumatology, Children's Hospital, Olgahospital Stuttgart, teaching hospital of the University of Tuebingen, Bismarckstr. 8, 70176 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Peter Müller-Abt
- Radiologic Institute, Children's Hospital, Olgahospital Stuttgart, teaching hospital of the University of Tuebingen, Bismarckstr. 8, 70176 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Anita Patel
- Division of Pediatric Rheumatology, Children's Hospital, Olgahospital Stuttgart, teaching hospital of the University of Tuebingen, Bismarckstr. 8, 70176 Stuttgart, Germany
| | - Gerd Horneff
- Children's Hospital, Asklepios Klinik, Arnold-Janssenstr. 29, 53757 Sankt Augustin, Germany
| | - Thekla von Kalle
- Radiologic Institute, Children's Hospital, Olgahospital Stuttgart, teaching hospital of the University of Tuebingen, Bismarckstr. 8, 70176 Stuttgart, Germany
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