OBJECTIVE: To compare a low field dedicated extremity magnetic resonance imaging system (E-MRI) with x ray and clinical examination, in the detection of @entity32 and erosive lesions in wrist and metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints in newly diagnosed, untreated @entity309 ( @entity309 ). @entity1 AND METHODS: Twenty five @entity1 (disease duration < or =1 year) and three healthy controls entered the study. An x ray examination and MRI (before and after intravenous injection of a contrast agent) of the 2nd-5th @entity2720 and the wrist was performed. The number of @entity2681 on x ray examination and MRI was calculated, and @entity603 and wrists was graded semiquantitatively. RESULTS: E-MRI detected 57 bone @entity2681 , whereas only six @entity2681 were disclosed by x ray examination (ratio 9.5:1). @entity1184 grades were significantly higher in @entity309 with clinical signs of @entity32 -that is, swelling and/or tenderness (median 3, 5th-95th centile 1-4) than without these clinical signs (median 2, 5th-95th centile 1-3), p < 0.001. 51% of the joints without clinical signs of @entity603 showed @entity1184 on E-MRI. There was a positive correlation between MRI scores of @entity603 and the number of @entity2681 detected by MRI in the @entity2720 (Spearman r(s) = 0.31, p < 0.01). No healthy controls had @entity2681 or @entity603 on MRI. CONCLUSION: Joint destruction starts very early in @entity309 and E-MRI allows detailed evaluation of inflammatory and destructive changes in wrists and @entity2720 in @entity1 with incipient @entity309 .

Low field dedicated magnetic resonance imaging in untreated XXXX of recent onset.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['patients', 'PATIENTS'] @entity32 :: ('MESH:D007249', 'Disease') :: ['inflammation', 'joint inflammation'] @entity2681 :: ('MESH:D014077', 'Disease') :: ['erosions'] @entity1184 :: ('MESH:D006984', 'Disease') :: ['Synovial hypertrophy', 'synovial hypertrophy'] @entity603 :: ('MESH:D013585', 'Disease') :: ['synovitis', 'synovitis in the MCP joints'] @entity2720 :: ('MESH:D007592', 'Disease') :: ['MCP joints'] @entity309 :: ('MESH:D001172', 'Disease') :: ['rheumatoid arthritis', 'RA joints', 'RA']
@entity309 :: (MESH:D001172,Disease) :: ['rheumatoid arthritis']
