Imaging rheumatic diseases

Currently, more than 100 rheumatic diseases affect nearly 46 million Americans. Some of the most common rheumatic diseases include rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, lupus, psoriatic arthritis, ankylosing spondylitis, gout, and Sj?gren syndrome. Rheumatic diseases are characterized by inflammation and lack of function in the joints and connective tissue. Early diagnosis and treatment of rheumatic disease is paramount in preventing damage and disability. Many radiologic modalities are used for diagnosing and monitoring these diseases, but for many, radiography remains the gold standard. Furthermore, imaging biomarkers may play an important role in diagnosis and treatment of rheumatic diseases in the future.