Novel Complex Radiodiagnostics of Peripherial Arthropathies

Background:

Chronic peripherial arthritides include immune-mediated (rheumatoid arthritis, psoriatic arthritis) and crystal deposition diseases (gout, pseudogout, hydroxiapatite-deposition disease).

Conventional radiographs are utilized to screen arthritis-associated deformities, bone erosions and joint space narrowing. MRI is able to detect bone marrow edema, synovitis and the swelling of soft tissues. Sonography can also detect synovitis and soft tissue involvement but does not provide information about bone marrow edema and poorly assess erosions. Photon-counting detector computed tomography (PCD-CT) is a novel type of CT device which provides many advantages like improved signal-to-noise ratio, intrinsic spectral information, lower radiation exposure, and better spatial resolution. PCD-CT is a type of X-ray computed tomography in which X-rays are detected using a photon-counting detector. These detectors are able to directly transform X-ray photons into electrical signals. Compared to previous generation scintillation detectors, photon-counting detectors have several advantages: being able to count the charges created by individual x-ray photons and measuring their energy level also providing multi- energy spectral sensitivity. 0.2 mm slice thickness potentiates the detection of bone erosionss. Collagen-rich structures like cartilage, ligaments, and tendons are easier to identify on PCD-CT images. Bone marrow edema can be visualized with virtual non- calcium reconstruction. PCD-CT could both detect and differentiate cristal deposits.

Aims: To assess the possible role of PCD-CT technique in the diagnostics of peripherial arthropathies.To compare the role of PCD-CT in the detection of arthritis-related pathologies with other imaging modalities like MRI and conventional radiography.