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Computerized Digital Imaging Techniques Provided by Digital X-ray Radiogrammetry as New Diagnostic Tool in Rheumatoid Arthritis

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Purpose

Our study evaluates digital x-ray radiogrammetry (DXR) and Radiogrammetry Kit (RK) as a new diagnostic method for the measurement of disease-related osteoporosis including quantification of joint space narrowing dependent on the severity of rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Materials and Methods

A total of 172 unselected patients with RA underwent computerized measurements of bone mineral density (BMD) and metacarpal index (MCI) by DXR, as well as a semiautomated measurement of joint space distances at the metacarpal–phalangeal articulation (JSD-MCP 2–5), both were analyzed from plain radiographs of the nondominant hand.

Results

Correlations between DXR-BMD and DXR-MCI vs. parameters of RK were all significant (0.34 < R < 0.61; p < 0.01). An expected negative association was observed between RK parameters and the different scoring methods (−0.27 < R < −0.59). The maximum relative decrease in BMD vs. MCI as measured by DXR between the highest and lowest RA severity group was −27.7% vs. −27.5% (p < 0.01) for the modified Larsen Score, whereas the minimal value of relative DXR-BMD and DXR-MCI reduction could be documented for the Sharp Erosion Score (−20.8% vs. −26.8%; p < 0.01). The relative reduction of mean JSD-MCP using RK significantly varied from −25.0% (Sharp Erosion Score) to −41.2% (modified Larsen Score). In addition, an excellent reproducibility of DXR and RK could be verified.

Conclusion

DXR in combination with RK could be a promising, widely available diagnostic tool to supplement the different scoring methods of RA with quantitative data, allowing an earlier and improved diagnosis and more precision in determining disease progression.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology, Friedrich-Schiller University Jena, Erlanger Allee 101, 07747, Jena, Germany

    Joachim Böttcher M.D., Alexander Pfeil, Max-Ludwig Schäfer, Ansgar Malich M.D., Alexander Petrovitch M.D., Bettina Seidl, Hans-Joachim Mentzel M.D. & Werner A. Kaiser M.D., M.S.

  2. Sectra Pronosco A/S, Kohavevej 5, 2950, Vedbaek, Denmark

    Anders Rosholm Ph.D.

  3. Clinic of Internal Medicine III, Friedrich-Schiller University Jena, Erlanger Allee 101, 07747, Jena, Germany

    Gabriele Lehmann M.D., Gert Hein M.D. & Gunter Wolf M.D.

Authors
  1. Joachim Böttcher M.D.
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  2. Alexander Pfeil
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  3. Anders Rosholm Ph.D.
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  4. Max-Ludwig Schäfer
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  5. Ansgar Malich M.D.
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  6. Alexander Petrovitch M.D.
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  7. Bettina Seidl
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  8. Gabriele Lehmann M.D.
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  9. Hans-Joachim Mentzel M.D.
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  10. Gert Hein M.D.
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  11. Gunter Wolf M.D.
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  12. Werner A. Kaiser M.D., M.S.
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Correspondence to Joachim Böttcher M.D..

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Böttcher, J., Pfeil, A., Rosholm, A. et al. Computerized Digital Imaging Techniques Provided by Digital X-ray Radiogrammetry as New Diagnostic Tool in Rheumatoid Arthritis. J Digit Imaging 19, 279–288 (2006). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10278-006-0263-y

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