The reliability of a novel magnetic resonance imaging-based tool for the evaluation of forefoot bursae in patients with rheumatoid arthritis: the FFB score.

Journal article

OBJECTIVE: The aim of this study was to determine the reliability of an MRI-based score that evaluates forefoot bursae (FFBs) in patients with RA. METHODS: Items for inclusion, grading criteria and MRI sequences were determined iteratively. The score was evaluated in 30 patients with established RA. Reader agreement was evaluated using the percentage of exact/close agreement, Bland-Altman plots, kappa and intraclass correlation coefficient analyses. RESULTS: The FFB score assesses nine forefoot regions and contains four items: presence, shape, enhancement and magnetic resonance characteristics. The FFB score showed moderate to good intra- and interreader agreement (κ range = 0.5-0.9 and 0.47-0.87, respectively). CONCLUSION: The FFB score is adequately reliable in the evaluation of bursa-like lesions of the forefoot in patients with RA.

Authors: Cherry, L; King, L; Thomas, M; Roemer, F; Culliford, D

• Publication status: Published
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Journal: Rheumatology (Oxford, England)
• Volume: 53
• Issue: 11
• Pages: 2014-2017
• Publication date: 2014-11-01
• DOI: 10.1093/rheumatology/keu232
• EISSN: 1462-0332
• ISSN: 1462-0324
• Language: English
• Keywords: Female; Aged, 80 and over; Adult; Adolescent; Arthritis, Rheumatoid; Male; Forefoot, Human; Middle Aged; Follow-Up Studies; Cross-Sectional Studies; Young Adult; Aged; Bursa, Synovial; Humans; Severity of Illness Index; Disease Progression; Reproducibility of Results; Magnetic Resonance Imaging