Role of MRI in Evaluation of Juvenile Rheumatoid Athritis of Hip Joint

Abstract

MRI has pivotal role in early diagnosis of hip joint involvement in JRA. As a chronic inflammatory disease, JRA is multi-systematic with predominance in hip joints. Thirty-five patients with clinically proven Juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, showing pain and an inability to walk, underwent MRI examination for early detection of the disease. Precise cartilaginous and soft tissue changes could not be fully assessed, due to ample amount of non-ossified growth and articular cartilage by conventional X-rays at early stages of disease, especially in children. Examination of 35 patients, who underwent MRI, showed abnormal MR signals. Hypo-intense signals in the involved articulating bones with thickened synovium were observed on T1W sequence, however, T2W and short time inversion recovery (STIR) sequences disclosed hyper-intense signals in the concerned articulating bones. T1W post contrast images differentiated between thickened synovium and synovial joint effusion. Moreover, to detect disease process successfully at initial stage, MRI should be made compulsory part of study protocol concerning the patients of JRA showing hip joint pain and manifestation.