To investigate whether the findings of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) reflect rheumatoid synovitis.
Dynamic imaging enhanced with gadolinium-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid was performed on 10 affected knees of 9 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Changes in signal intensity were correlated with pathologic findings in synovial biopsy specimens obtained during total knee arthroplasty.
Enhancement was greater in regions with a higher degree of fibrin exudation, cellular infiltration, villous hypertrophy, vascular proliferation, and granulation formation.
Dynamic MRI can be used for assessing local disease activity in rheumatoid synovium.