Identifying pitfalls and opportunities of magnetic resonance imaging in spondylarthritis: PhD thesis presented on April 15, 2021 at Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium

Abstract

The general aims of this thesis were to define important pitfalls of MRI in the diagnosis of axial spondyloarthritis with a focus on the impact of biomechanical stress and to explore its potential in assessing the disease extent and treatment response in peripheral spondyloarthritis.

Several pitfalls were identified. Both inflammatory and structural sacroiliac joint lesions occur relatively frequently in non-SpA subjects, especially in the context of augmented biomechanical stress and age-related degeneration, indicating their limited specificity. Consequently, the risk of SpA overdiagnosis seems considerable. MRI should therefore only be performed in individuals with a high suspicion for SpA.