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Magnetic resonance imaging assessment in patients with axial spondyloarthritis: development of checklists for use in clinical practice

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Abstract

The objective of our study was to standardize magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) assessment of spine and sacroiliac joints in patients with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA) and/or inflammatory spinal pain, by creating checklists and templates based on the opinions of rheumatologists and radiologists. A scientific committee developed a series of questionnaires with multiple items regarding MRI in patients with axial inflammatory pain and/or axSpA. Then an expert panel of rheumatologists and radiologists rated all items in a 9-point Likert scale. Finally, the scientific committee and the expert panel met to create the definitive documents. Several definitive checklists and templates were generated for rheumatologist-requested MRI and for radiologist-requested MRI reports of sacroiliac joint and spinal examinations. A technical requirement protocol was also agreed on. Our results could be useful in increasing understanding between rheumatologists and radiologists regarding MRI in axSpA diagnosis and follow-up.

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Acknowledgements

The authors did not receive any financial or material support for the study or any technical assistance in writing the manuscript. The authors have no financial relationship that may involve a conflict of interest.

Funding

The authors did not receive any financial or material support for the study.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Rheumatology Unit, Hospital Universitario Fundación Alcorcón, C/Budapest S/N, 28922, Alcorcón, Madrid, Spain

    Raquel Almodóvar & Pedro Zarco

  2. Radiology Unit, Hospital Universitario Fundación Alcorcón, Madrid, Spain

    Ángel Bueno

  3. Rheumatology Department, Hospital de San Juan, Alicante, Spain

    Enrique Batlle

  4. Rheumatology Department, Hospital del Mar, Barcelona, Spain

    Emma Beltrán-Catalán

  5. Radiology Department, Hospital La Paz, Madrid, Spain

    Daniel Bernabeu

  6. Radiology Department, Hospital de San Juan, Alicante, Spain

    Carmen Castro Copete & Concha Crespo

  7. Radiology Department, Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca, Murcia, Spain

    Angela Cepero

  8. Radiology Department, Hospital Universitario de Basurto, Bilbao, Spain

    Fernando Díez

  9. Rheumatology Department, Hospital de Elda, Alicante, Spain

    Cristina Fernández-Carballido

  10. Rheumatology Department, Hospital Universitario de Basurto, Bilbao, Spain

    Fran García Lorente

  11. Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Universidad Rey Juan Carlos, Madrid, Spain

    Angel Gil De Miguel

  12. Rheumatology Department, Hospital de Bellvitge, Barcelona, Spain

    Xavier Juanola

  13. Rheumatology Department, Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca, Bilbao, Spain

    Luis Linares

  14. Radiology Department, Hospital Reina Sofía, Córdoba, Spain

    Rafael Montero Pérez-Barquero

  15. Rheumatology Department, Hospital Reina Sofía, Córdoba, Spain

    Carmen Castro

  16. Rheumatology Department, Hospital Virgen de la Arrixaca, Murcia, Spain

    Manuel José Moreno Ramos

  17. Rheumatology Department, Hospital Parc Taulí, Badalona, Spain

    Mireia Moreno

  18. Rheumatology Department, Hospital La Paz, Madrid, Spain

    Victoria Navarro-Compán

  19. Radiology Department, Hospital de Elda, Alicante, Spain

    Christopher Pack

  20. Radiology Department, Hospital General Universitario, Valencia, Spain

    Carlos Quiles

  21. Radiology Department, Hospital Parc Taulí, Badalona, Spain

    Maite Veintemillas

Authors
  1. Raquel Almodóvar
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  2. Ángel Bueno
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  4. Emma Beltrán-Catalán
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  5. Daniel Bernabeu
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  6. Carmen Castro Copete
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  7. Angela Cepero
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  9. Fernando Díez
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  10. Cristina Fernández-Carballido
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  11. Fran García Lorente
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  12. Angel Gil De Miguel
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  13. Xavier Juanola
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  14. Luis Linares
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  15. Rafael Montero Pérez-Barquero
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  16. Carmen Castro
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  17. Manuel José Moreno Ramos
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  18. Mireia Moreno
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  19. Victoria Navarro-Compán
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  20. Christopher Pack
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  21. Carlos Quiles
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  22. Maite Veintemillas
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  23. Pedro Zarco
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Contributions

All authors, particularly RA, AB and PZ, contributed to the study conception and design as well as to material preparation, data collection, and analysis. RA, AB, and PZ wrote the first draft of the manuscript; then, all authors commented on previous versions of the manuscript, revising it critically for important intellectual content. All authors read and approved the final manuscript. All authors agree to be accountable for all aspects of the work in ensuring that questions related to the accuracy or integrity of any part of the work have been appropriately investigated and resolved.

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Correspondence to Raquel Almodóvar.

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Almodóvar, R., Bueno, Á., Batlle, E. et al. Magnetic resonance imaging assessment in patients with axial spondyloarthritis: development of checklists for use in clinical practice. Rheumatol Int 39, 2119–2127 (2019). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00296-019-04441-2

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