Added value of T2 Mapping of the Articular Cartilage to the routine MRI of the Sacroiliac Joint in Assessment of Patients with Axial Spondyloarthritis
Rashad, Y., Salem, L., Salem, R., Ammar, A. (2025). Added value of T2 Mapping of the Articular Cartilage to the routine MRI of the Sacroiliac Joint in Assessment of Patients with Axial Spondyloarthritis. EKB Journal Management System, 8(2), 212-225. doi: 10.21608/svuijm.2025.395764.2205
Yosra Fouad Mohamed Rashad; Logain Nabil Salem; Rehab Mahmoud Salem; Alshimaa Magdy Ammar. "Added value of T2 Mapping of the Articular Cartilage to the routine MRI of the Sacroiliac Joint in Assessment of Patients with Axial Spondyloarthritis". EKB Journal Management System, 8, 2, 2025, 212-225. doi: 10.21608/svuijm.2025.395764.2205
Rashad, Y., Salem, L., Salem, R., Ammar, A. (2025). 'Added value of T2 Mapping of the Articular Cartilage to the routine MRI of the Sacroiliac Joint in Assessment of Patients with Axial Spondyloarthritis', EKB Journal Management System, 8(2), pp. 212-225. doi: 10.21608/svuijm.2025.395764.2205
Rashad, Y., Salem, L., Salem, R., Ammar, A. Added value of T2 Mapping of the Articular Cartilage to the routine MRI of the Sacroiliac Joint in Assessment of Patients with Axial Spondyloarthritis. EKB Journal Management System, 2025; 8(2): 212-225. doi: 10.21608/svuijm.2025.395764.2205

Added value of T2 Mapping of the Articular Cartilage to the routine MRI of the Sacroiliac Joint in Assessment of Patients with Axial Spondyloarthritis

SVU-International Journal of Medical Sciences
Volume 8, Issue 2, July 2025, Page 212-225  XML PDF (799.82 K)
Document Type: Original research articles
DOI: 10.21608/svuijm.2025.395764.2205
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Authors
Yosra Fouad Mohamed Rashad email 1; Logain Nabil Salem1; Rehab Mahmoud Salem2; Alshimaa Magdy Ammarorcid 1
1Department of Radiodiagnosis and Medical Imaging , Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt.
2Department of Rheumatology ,Rehabilitation and Physical Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt
Abstract
Background: Diagnosing axial spondyloarthritis (Axial SpA)  early is clinically difficult, with conventional MRI frequently missing subtle sacroiliac joint abnormalities.
Objectives: To assess the added value of T2 mapping of the sacroiliac joint cartilage to routine MRI in the evaluation of patients with axial SpA.
Patients and methods: This study was conducted on 30 axial SpA patients naive to biologic therapy, 16 male (53.3% )& 14 female (46.7%) and 30 healthy age- and sex-matched controls , 13 male (46.7%) & 17 female (53.3%) between February and May 2025. The mean age was 33.5 ± 8.7 years in the Axial SpA group and 30.1 ± 7.6 years in the control group; without notable difference (p = 0.074). MRI assessments were done using a 1.5 T GE scanner, including conventional sequences and T2 mapping. T2 relaxation times were quantitatively analyzed, and sacroiliitis was assessed using the SPARCC MRI index.
Results: Axial SpA patients had higher T2 values than controls (57.15 vs. 44.13 ms; p < 0.001). ROC analysis indicated strong diagnostic value (AUC = 0.973) with 93.3% sensitivity and 96.7% specificity at 48.72 ms. T2 values did not correlate with clinical or demographic variables.
Conclusion: T2 mapping provides a significant added value to routine MRI in differentiating axial SpA patients from healthy individuals by detecting early cartilage changes, even in the absence of clinical disease activity correlations.
Keywords
T2 mapping-MRI; SIJ; ASpa
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