Inflammation in ankylosing spondylitis: a systematic description of the extent and frequency of acute spinal changes using magnetic resonance imaging

This article signals the acceptance of MRI as a method of picking up early inflammation in ankylosing spondylitis, predominantly in the dorsal spine and dorso-lumbar junction. As the use of drugs such as etanercept increases in the control of ankylosing spondylitis, it becomes important to study the effect of these drugs on inflammatory processes. This article also has a new classification of the severity of ankylosing spondylitis, based on the MRI appearances.

Inflammation in ankylosing spondylitis: a systematic description of the extent and frequency of acute spinal changes using magnetic resonance imaging -- Baraliakos et al. 64 (5): 730 -- Annals of the Rheumatic Diseases

JAMA -- Abstract: Clinical Validity of a Negative Computed Tomography Scan in Patients With Suspected Pulmonary Embolism: A Systematic Review, April 2

Articles such as these, really help in further promoting the use of a specific modality. Though already implemented in clinical practice in most hospitals and countries in the world, this meta-analysis puts things in perspective. The negative predictive value for ruling out pulmonary thrombo-embolism is almost 99%, even with a single slice spiral CT scanner. There are advantages to using a multi-slice scanner especially for distal emboli, but a negative CT on a single slice spiral seems to be good enough. The question is whether identifying distal emboli makes a difference to management.

JAMA -- Abstract: Clinical Validity of a Negative Computed Tomography Scan in Patients With Suspected Pulmonary Embolism: A Systematic Review, April 27, 2005, Quiroz et al. 293 (16): 2012

Detection and Localization of Proteinuria by Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging Using MS325 -- Zhang et al., 10.1681/ASN.2004110981

This is one more new possible application for MRI. As time passes by there will be more and more such functional applications coming in, which will only serve to increase the utility of our imaging modalities.

This abstract describes the use of albumin bound Gd in the assessment of proteinuria using MRI. Though the study has been performed in swine, if it can be replicated in humans, it will make a big difference.

Detection and Localization of Proteinuria by Dynamic Contrast-Enhanced Magnetic Resonance Imaging Using MS325 -- Zhang et al., 10.1681/ASN.2004110981 -- Journal of the American Society of Nephrology