Comparison of radiography and CT with bone scintigraphic imaging in detecting undifferentiated spondyloarthropathy

Objective To evaluate characteristics of sacroiliitis on bone scintigraphy and to compare the bone scintigraphic images with findings obtained by conventional radiography and CT in patients with undifferentiated spondyloarthropathy. Methods Sixty-eight patients with undifferentiated spondyloarthropathy were recruited. In each patient the conventional radiography, CT and bone scintigraphic imaging were completed within a week. SPECT was performed on whole body skeleton as well as sacroiliac joint to measure the radioactivity ratio in this joint. Results Among 136 sacroiliac joints with undifferentiated spondyloarthropathy, the abnormal findings with conventional radiography were 16 (11.76%), with CT were 38(27.94%), and bone scintigraphic imaging were 84(61.76%) including metabolic changes of other joints such as hip joint, knee joint etc in 36 patients. Conclusion Comparing with conventional radiography and CT,the bone scintigraphic imaging is more sensitive in detecting undifferentiated spondyloarthropathy.