Spectrum of Inflammatory Changes in the SIJs on Radiographs and MR Images in Patients with Suspected Axial Spondyloarthritis.

Background: The aim of the paper was to compare radiographs and MRI in assessment of active and chronic inflammatory changes in the sacroiliac joints in patients with chronic back pain and suspected axial spondyloarthritis. Moreover, the aim was to determine which of the two methods is more accurate in diagnosing individual inflammatory changes in the sacroiliac joints and whether there is a correlation between radiographs and MRI in their identification.

Material/methods: The analysis was conducted in a group of 101 patients, including 61 women and 40 men, referred to radiographs and MR examinations by rheumatologists due to chronic back pain.

Diagnostics of Sacroiliitis According to ASAS Criteria: A Comparative Evaluation of Conventional Radiographs and MRI in Patients with a Clinical Suspicion of Spondyloarthropathy. Preliminary Results.

Background: The objective of this study was a comparative evaluation of radiography and MRI in the diagnostics of sacroiliitis in patients with a clinical diagnosis of spondyloartropathy, according to the current ASAS criteria.

Material/methods: Sacroiliac joints radiograms and MRI were conducted in 101 consecutive patients, aged 19-71 yrs (mean age: 40.6 yrs).

The role of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis and peripheral spondyloarthropathies.

In recent years a dynamic development of ultrasound technology has been observed. Consequently, ultrasound is increasingly being utilized in rheumatology. With the introduction of high-frequency (up to 18 MHz) linear probes, sensitive Doppler techniques, harmonic imaging options and cross beams, ultrasound is used in the initial diagnosis of rheumatic diseases, monitoring of the effectiveness of treatment and confirmation of remission.

Radiological imaging in pediatric rheumatic diseases.

Radiological imaging plays a fundamental role in the diagnosis and monitoring of rheumatic diseases. The basic method of imaging is a classic X-ray picture, which for many years has been used as a single method for the recognition and evaluation of the effects of disease management. In today's modern day treatment of rheumatic diseases, ultrasonography and magnetic resonance are more commonly performed for early detection of inflammatory changes in the region of soft tissue, subchondral bone and bone marrow.

The usefulness of ultrasound in the diagnostics of Sjögren's syndrome.

Sjögren's syndrome is an autoimmune exocrinopathy which manifests itself with dryness of the eyes and the oral cavity. These symptoms comprise a so-called sicca syndrome (xerostomia and xerophthalmia). Two forms of this disease may be distinguished: primary Sjögren's syndrome which affects salivary glands and secondary Sjögren's syndrome with other autoimmune diseases present such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus or systemic scleroderma.