ANKYLOSING SPONDYLOARTHRITIS: REVIEW OF IMAGING FINDINGS IN THE SPINE

Abstract

Introduction: Ankylosing spondyloarthritis (AS) is one of the most important of seronegative spondyloarthropathy, which has certain characteristics of chronic back pain due to chronic inflammation of the axial skeleton accompanied with progressive stiffness, these symptoms appear between 20 and 30 years of age in young patients, this disease linked to human leukocyte antigen B-27 (HLA B-27). for proper management of these cases it need current imaging techniques. To assess ankylosing spondylitis by radiologist, he needs to recognize classic imaging findings and its complications

Objectives: To present review of different findings of spinal imaging in patients with AS.

Methods and materials: An analysis will be made through different findings of conventional radiography, CT and MRI in multiple patients.

Results: different representative findings, complications, differential diagnoses, radiological key points will be shown. Conclusion: AS is characterized by typical MR manifestations, However, these are not specific and can be seen in multiple other spinal pathologies.

Keywords: Spondyloarthritis, Imaging, Spine.