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Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) imaging tests are used to look for signs of RA and to monitor the disease’s progression. These tests primarily look for bone damage in the patient’s joints caused by the inflammation associated with RA. X-rays used to be the most common form of imaging ordered, but they….
Imaging Tests for Rheumatoid Arthritis. Learn what types of imaging scans are most effective in detecting and monitoring RA. Updated April 28, 2022. For decades, X-rays were used to help detect rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and monitor for worsening bone damage.
Radiology plays a key role in diagnosis and management of RA. Currently, magnetic resonance imaging is the best imaging modality because it depicts soft-tissue changes and damage to cartilage and bone even better and at an earlier stage than does computed tomography.
Rheumatoid arthritis can be difficult to diagnose in its early stages because the early signs and symptoms mimic those of many other diseases. There is no one blood test or physical finding to confirm the diagnosis.
Use in patients with a moderate to high pretest probability of rheumatoid arthritis – For patients with an inflammatory, small joint arthritis and with a moderate to high pretest probability of RA, the presence of ACPA testing confirms a diagnosis of RA.
McQueen FM, Stewart N, Crabbe J, et al. Magnetic resonance imaging of the wrist in early rheumatoid arthritis reveals progression of erosions despite clinical improvement. Ann Rheum Dis. 1999;58(3):156–63. doi: 10.1136/ard.58.3.156.
Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasound may help diagnose rheumatoid arthritis in the early stages of the disease. In addition, these imaging tests can help evaluate the amount of damage in the joints and the severity of the disease.