Dr Marwan Bukhari talks to Dr Helena Marzo-Ortega on the use of MRI in the diagnosis of axSpA

Dr Marwan Bukhari talks to Dr Helena Marzo-Ortega about her recent papers on the use of MRI in the diagnosis of axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). The first paper, a systematic literature review, confirmed the diagnostic utility of MRI in axial SpA and showed that performance varied according to the characteristics of the cohort and the number and combination of MRI lesions considered. Informed by this review, the second paper reports that a joint rheumatology and radiology consensus on the acquisition and interpretation of MRI in axSpA diagnosis was achieved. Finally, a list of recommendations were developed which, when applied in clinical practice, should help standardize practice around MRI and ensure a more informed, consistent approach to the diagnosis of axSpA.