Keywords:
Arthritides, Imaging sequences, MR, Musculoskeletal system, Musculoskeletal joint
Authors:
G. Posillico1, P. Trovato1, F. rosella2, I. Simonetti3, M. Iodice1, P. P. Saturnino4, P. Liguori4, L. Manfredonia1, T. Pirronti5; 1Caserta/IT, 2Roma/IT, 3Napoli/IT, 4Caserta, Italy/IT, 5Roma (RM)/IT
DOI:
10.1594/ecr2018/C-0415
Aims and objectives
Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA) is a common systemic,
chronic autoimmune disease characterized by an uncontrolled proliferation of synovial tissue and multisystem comorbidities,
associated with progressive disability,
multi-organ complications,
early mortality and significant socio-economic impact [1-4].
The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is involved in more than 50% of cases,
often in a symmetrical way,
with an evolution characterized by thinning of the disc,
joint effusion,
disc fractures,
bone edema,
synovial cloth formation,
flattening condyle,
erosion of the condyle,
reducible and/or irreducible dislocation and destruction of the periarticular soft tissues.
These changes can cause pre-auricular pain,
which increases with mastication,
morning stiffness,
reduction of the masticatory force and progressive functional limitation [5-9].
The involvement of the atlanto-axial joint (AAJ) certainly is the most severe joint RA localization; a synovial pannus can form,
which is the typical lesion,
and consequently a subluxation of the AEE can occur,
with the risk of secondary myelopathy [10,11].
Therefore,
the purpose of this study was to searching for a correlation between the early and long RA and alterations of TMJ and AAJ with an open gantry low field MR without contrast,
in relation to its greater diffusion on the territory and to its greater possibility of use,
in order to collaborate in the management of these patients and to better orient themselves towards the therapeutic choices [12-15].