Rheumatoid arthritis and its variants: analysis of scintiphotographic, radiographic, and clinical examinations

Authors:
  • DWD Resnick Dl Weissberg
    D Resnick Dl Weissberg
  • DRD Resnick
    D Resnick
  • ATA Taylor
    A Taylor
  • MBM Becker
    M Becker
  • NAN Alazraki
    N Alazraki
  • BTBachir Taouli
    Bachir Taouli
  • SZSouhil Zaim
    Souhil Zaim
  • CPCharles G. Peterfy
    Charles G. Peterfy
  • JLJohn A. Lynch
    John A. Lynch
  • ASAlexander Stork
    Alexander Stork
  • AGAli Guermazi
    Ali Guermazi
  • BFBo Fan
    Bo Fan
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Abstract
99mTc pyrophosphate radionuclide scans of the axial and appendicular skeletons in 23 patients with rheumatoid arthritis and 15 patients with systemic arthritic conditions were compared to clinical and radiographic examinations. The nuclear scan was the most sensitive indicator of active disease and correlated extremely well with the other methods. A pattern of abnormal radionuclide activity in rheumatoid arthritis consisting of a symmetric peripheral joint process can be distinguished from that of the rheumatoid variants which tend to have more central skeletal involvement and asymmetric peripheral articular involvement. The nuclear scan is less specific than the radiograph in its ability to distinguish among the clinical entities. However, documentation of scintigraphic activity often antedated radiographic or clinical abnormalities.