#5-98E. Redefining Osteoarthritis: Whole-Joint Imaging and Inflammatory Biomarkers (Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol, 2026)

How can modern imaging transform our approach to osteoarthritis beyond traditional joint space narrowing on plain radiographs? Advanced modalities reveal that osteoarthritis is a whole-joint disease where early inflammatory features, such as bone marrow lesions and effusion-synovitis, precede cartilage loss and drive disease progression. However, many compositional MRI and PET techniques remain time-consuming, expensive, and lack standardized protocols for routine clinical practice. Recognizing these early imaging biomarkers allows clinicians to shift from reactive management to proactive, phenotype-targeted interventions before irreversible structural damage occurs.

Citation: Carly E. Jones, Garry E. Gold. What have we learned about osteoarthritis from imaging? Best Practice & Research Clinical Rheumatology. 2026.

URL: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.berh.2026.102207

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