| AJNMMI Copyright © 2011-present, All rights reserved. Published by e-Century Publishing Corporation, Madison, WI 53711, USA |
Am J Nucl Med Mol Imaging 2012;2(2):174-220.
Review Article
Current imaging strategies in rheumatoid arthritis
Merissa N Zeman, Pter JH Scott
Department of Radiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
Received February 5, 2012; accepted February 28, 2012; Epub March 28, 2012; Published April 15, 2012
Abstract: As remission has now become a realistic therapeutic goal in the clinical management of RA due to the introduction and
widespread adoption of biologic agents, there is a greater need for earlier diagnoses and objective methods for evaluating disease
activity and response to treatment. In this capacity, advanced imaging strategies are assuming an expansive clinical role, particularly
as they take advantage of newer imaging technologies and the shift toward imaging at the molecular level. Molecular imaging utilizes
target-specific probes to non-invasively visualize molecular, cellular, and physiological perturbations in response to the underlying
pathology. Probes for nuclear and MR imaging have been and are being developed that react with discrete aspects of inflammatory
and destructive pathways specific to RA. These probes in addition to new MR sequences and contrast agents have the potential to
provide an earlier and more reliable assessment of clinical outcome, disease activity, severity, and location, and therapeutic
response. Furthermore, these imaging strategies may enable a more fundamental understanding of critical pathophysiological
processes and the advent of new molecular therapies. This review will discuss these advances in both nuclear medicine and MRI
strategies for imaging RA with a particular emphasis on molecular imaging. (ajnmmi1202002).
Keywords: Molecular imaging, magnetic resonance imaging, nuclear imaging, rheumatoid arthritis
Address all correspondence to:
Dr. Peter JH Scott
Department of Radiology
University of Michigan Medical School
2276 Medical Science Building I / SPC 5610
Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
E-mail: pjhscott@umich.edu
Review Article
Current imaging strategies in rheumatoid arthritis
Merissa N Zeman, Pter JH Scott
Department of Radiology, University of Michigan Medical School, Ann Arbor, MI, USA
Received February 5, 2012; accepted February 28, 2012; Epub March 28, 2012; Published April 15, 2012
Abstract: As remission has now become a realistic therapeutic goal in the clinical management of RA due to the introduction and
widespread adoption of biologic agents, there is a greater need for earlier diagnoses and objective methods for evaluating disease
activity and response to treatment. In this capacity, advanced imaging strategies are assuming an expansive clinical role, particularly
as they take advantage of newer imaging technologies and the shift toward imaging at the molecular level. Molecular imaging utilizes
target-specific probes to non-invasively visualize molecular, cellular, and physiological perturbations in response to the underlying
pathology. Probes for nuclear and MR imaging have been and are being developed that react with discrete aspects of inflammatory
and destructive pathways specific to RA. These probes in addition to new MR sequences and contrast agents have the potential to
provide an earlier and more reliable assessment of clinical outcome, disease activity, severity, and location, and therapeutic
response. Furthermore, these imaging strategies may enable a more fundamental understanding of critical pathophysiological
processes and the advent of new molecular therapies. This review will discuss these advances in both nuclear medicine and MRI
strategies for imaging RA with a particular emphasis on molecular imaging. (ajnmmi1202002).
Keywords: Molecular imaging, magnetic resonance imaging, nuclear imaging, rheumatoid arthritis
Address all correspondence to:
Dr. Peter JH Scott
Department of Radiology
University of Michigan Medical School
2276 Medical Science Building I / SPC 5610
Ann Arbor, MI, USA.
E-mail: pjhscott@umich.edu
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