Spondyloarthritis & psoriatic arthritis
The impact of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) slice thickness on the detection of spinal syndesmophytes in axial spondyloarthritis
Authors' conclusion
The thinner the MRI slices, the more syndesmophytes were detected compared to radiography, but the best agreement with radiography was found in the thicker slices. The presence of fat lesions on MRI was associated with better agreement with radiography for syndesmophyte detection.
Study context
- Population
- Patients with radiographic axial Spondyloarthritis (r-axSpA) with available radiographs; vertebral corners thoracic (Th11) to L51.204 vertebral corner (VCs) assessed
- Participants
- 43 patients
- Comparison
- MRI (T1-weighted (T1W)) at slice thicknesses of 1-6 mm vs radiography for syndesmophyte detection
- Outcome
- Syndesmophytes per vertebral corner on MRI by slice thickness vs radiography
Methodological detailsprospective, two independent readers, consensus
- Prospective
- Two independent readers, consensus
Performance
As reported in the abstract
VCs with syndesmophytes recorded
All p ≤ 0.001 vs. radiography
Further findings
Fat lesions on MRI
- Fat lesions (FL) detected, slice thicknesses 1-6 mm
- 38.2%-39.2%
- Occurrence of FL associated with better agreement between MRI and radiography
Parts of this Brief are withheld: the automatic checks could not confirm them against the abstract.
Original publication
The impact of MRI slice thickness on the detection of spinal syndesmophytes in axial spondyloarthritis. Arthritis Res Ther. Published 14 November 2025. doi:10.
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