Contribution of EOS in the Structural Evaluation of Spondyloarthritis

Spondyloarthritis (SpA) is a chronic inflammatory disease that can affect the sacroiliac joints, the spine and / or the peripheral joints. It is characterized by a progressive and slow evolution over several years with a risk of ankylosis of the spine. It requires long-term follow-up of patients with repeated x-rays to assess structural damage. This repeated and cumulative exposure to radiation ionization puts at risk the radiosensitive organs that are in the field of irradiation.

EOS is a new low dose X-ray system that significantly reduces X-ray doses compared to conventional radiography. This system allows the global assessment of the entire skeleton from head to toe, static spine and lower limbs with the obtaining of two-dimensional images of high quality with the possibility of a three-dimensional reconstruction. Although the benefits of the EOS system are promising with regard to radiation dose reduction, few studies have investigated its use in SpA and little evidence has supported its reliability in assessing the structural damage caused by the disease.