To investigate criterion validity and intraobserver reliability of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in hand osteoarthritis (HOA).
In 16 patients with HOA (median age 57 yrs, 62% women, 13 with erosive OA), 3 Tesla MRI scans with gadolinium-chelate administration of right second to fifth distal interphalangeal/proximal interphalangeal joints were scored according to the Oslo HOA scoring method for synovial thickening, bone marrow lesions (BML), osteophytes, joint space narrowing (JSN), and erosions (grade 0-3). Ultrasound (US) was scored for synovial thickening and osteophytes, radiographs for osteophytes and JSN (Osteoarthritis Research Society International score), and anatomical phases (Verbruggen-Veys score). Pain was assessed during physical examination. Correlations of MRI with US and radiographic features were assessed with generalizability theory. With generalized estimating equations analyses, MRI features were associated with pain, adjusting for confounding.
Forty-three percent, 27%, 77%, and 61% of joints had synovial thickening (moderate/severe), BML, osteophytes, and erosions on MRI, respectively. Intraobserver reliability, assessed in 6 patients, was good (ICC 0.77-1.00). Correlations between osteophytes, JSN, and erosions on radiographs and MRI were moderate, substantial, and fair (ICC 0.53, 0.68, and 0.32, respectively); MRI showed more lesions than radiography. Correlation between synovial thickening and osteophytes on MRI and US was moderate (ICC 0.43 and 0.49, respectively). MRI was more sensitive for synovial thickening, US for osteophytes. Pain was associated with moderate/severe synovial thickening (adjusted OR 2.4, 95% CI 1.06-5.5), collateral ligaments (4.2, 2.2-8.3), BML (3.5, 1.6-7.7), erosions (4.5, 1.7-12.2), and osteophytes (2.4, 1.1-5.2).
MRI is a reliable and valid method to assess inflammatory and structural features in HOA. It gives additional information over radiographs and US.