Department of Diagnostic Imaging, G Gaslini Institute, Largo G Gaslini 5, Genoa 16148, Italy.
Pediatr Radiol. 2010 Jun;40(6):985-98. doi: 10.1007/s00247-010-1612-z. Epub 2010 Apr 30.
Juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) represents a group of heterogeneous diseases characterized by a chronic inflammatory process primarily targeting the synovial membrane. A persistent synovitis is associated with an increased risk of osteocartilaginous damage.With the advent of effective structure-modifying treatment for JIA, it may be possible to significantly reduce or even completely prevent structural damage and associated functional disability. The trend towards early suppression of inflammation, in order to prevent erosive disease, shifts the emphasis away from conventional radiographic detectable structural damage to the slightest traces of early joint damage, and drives the need for alternative imaging techniques more sensitive in detecting early signs of disease activity and damage. In this regard MRI and US are playing an increasing role in the evaluation of arthritic joints.This article will review the key aspects of the current status and recent important advances of imaging techniques available to investigate the child with rheumatic disease, briefly discussing conventional radiography, and particularly focusing on MRI and US. In this era of advancing imaging technology, knowledge of the relative values of available imaging techniques is necessary to optimize the management of children with JIA.
幼年特发性关节炎（JIA）是一组异质性疾病，其特征为主要累及滑膜的慢性炎症过程。持续性滑膜炎与骨软骨损伤的风险增加相关。随着 JIA 有效结构修饰治疗的出现，有可能显著减少甚至完全预防结构损伤和相关的功能障碍。为了预防侵蚀性疾病，炎症的早期抑制趋势将重点从常规放射学可检测的结构损伤转移到对早期关节损伤最轻微痕迹的关注，并推动需要更敏感的替代成像技术来检测疾病活动和损伤的早期迹象。在这方面，MRI 和 US 在评估关节炎关节方面发挥着越来越重要的作用。本文将回顾当前可用的成像技术的关键方面和最近的重要进展，简要讨论常规放射学，特别关注 MRI 和 US。在这个不断发展的成像技术时代，了解可用成像技术的相对价值对于优化 JIA 患儿的管理是必要的。
