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Current Rheumatology Reviews

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ISSN (Print): 1573-3971
ISSN (Online): 1875-6360

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Research Article

Early Identification of Sacroiliitis in Patients with Suspected Spondyloarthritis: A Challenging Task

Author(s): Dorra Ben Nessib*, Mouna Chelli Bouaziz, Kaouther Maatallah, Mohamed Fethi Ladeb, Mohamed Montacer Kchir, Hend Riahi and Wafa Hamdi

Volume 19, Issue 4, 2023

Published on: 08 June, 2023

Page: [488 - 495] Pages: 8

DOI: 10.2174/1573397119666230529105122

Price: $65

Abstract

Objective: The purpose of this study was to assess the performance of computed tomography (CT) scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for detecting sacroiliitis in nonradiographic SpA (nr-SpA).

Methods: This cross-sectional monocentric double-blind study included 63 patients consulting for symptoms suggestive of SpA between February 2014 and February 2017. Patients with conventional radiographs showing a confirmed sacroiliitis (grade 3 or 4) were not included. Eligible patients underwent CT and MRI of sacroiliac joints (SIJ). CT and MR images were interpreted by 2 experienced musculoskeletal radiologists blinded to clinical and laboratory data. Two professors in rheumatology blinded to radiologists’ conclusions analyzed clinical data, laboratory tests, HLA typing, X-rays, CT and MRI images, and divided the patients into 2 groups: confirmed nr-SpA or no SpA. This classification was considered the gold standard when analyzing the results.

Results: 46 women and 17 men were included in this study. 47 patients were classified as confirmed nr-SpA (74.6%) and 16 patients as no SpA (25.4%). Sensitivity, specificity, and positive and negative predictive values of CT and MRI for detecting sacroiliitis were, respectively, estimated at 71.7%, 71.4%, 89.2%, 43.5%, and 51.2%, 100%, 100%, and 40%. CT and MRI findings were found to be statistically associated (p<0.001).

Conclusion: SIJ MRI is a highly specific method in the detection of sacroiliitis, but with a moderate sensitivity. SIJ CT scan, usually known as the third option after radiography and MRI, has much greater diagnostic utility than it has been documented previously.

Keywords: Spondyloarthritis, sacroiliac joints, computed tomography, magnetic resonance imaging, diagnosis, sacroiliitis.

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