Comparison of radiography and magnetic resonance imaging in detecting arthropathies in patients with hemophilia / 中国医学科学院学报

ABSTRACT

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and radiography in detecting arthropathies in patients with hemophilia.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Of 41 symptomatic joint images in the 14 patients with hemophilia, each joint was examined with both radiography and MRI within the same day. Imaging findings with both two modes were compared.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>Soft tissue swelling or joint effusion was observed in 33 joints by radiographs and in 34 joints by MRI. Joint erosions were demonstrated in 34 joints by MRI and in 20 joints by radiographs. Joint cysts were shown in 21 joints by MRI and in 9 joints by radiographs. Significant differences in the detection of erosion and cyst were found between radiography and MRI (P < 0. 05). MRI showed improvement for detecting more foci of both erosion and cyst than radiography. Bone marrow edema in 14 joints, hemorrhage in 34 joints, and synovial hypertrophy in 27 joints were revealed only by MRI.</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>MRI is superior to conventional radiography in detecting the abnormal changes, and should be considered as the imaging mode of choice in evaluating hemophilic arthropathies.</p>