MRI lesions of the spine in patients with axial spondyloarthritis: an update of lesion definitions and validation by the ASAS MRI working group.

Spinal MRI is used to visualise lesions associated with axial spondyloarthritis (axSpA). The ASAS MRI working group (WG) updated and validated the definitions for inflammatory and structural spinal lesions in the context of axSpA. After review of the existing literature on all possible types of spinal MRI pathologies in axSpA, the group (12 rheumatologists and two radiologists) consented on the required revisions of lesion definitions compared with the existing nomenclature of 2012. In a second step, using 62 MRI scans from the ASAS classification cohort, the proposed definitions were validated in a multireader campaign by global (absent/present) and detailed (inflammation and structural) lesion assessment at the vertebral corner (VC), vertebral endplate, facet joints, transverse processes, lateral and posterior elements. Intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used for analysis. Revisions were made for both inflammatory (bone marrow oedema, BMO) and structural (fat, erosion, bone spur and ankylosis) lesions, including localisation (central vs lateral), extension (VC vs vertebral endplate) and extent (minimum number of slices needed), while new definitions were suggested for the type of lesion based on lesion maturity (VC monomorphic vs dimorphic). The most reliably assessed lesions were VC fat lesion and VC monomorphic BMO (ICC (mean of all 36 reader pairs/overall 9 readers): 0.91/0.92; 0.70/0.67, respectively. The lesion definitions for spinal MRI lesions compatible with SpA were updated by consensus and validated by a group of experienced readers. The lesions with the highest frequency and best reliability were fat and monomorphic inflammatory lesions at the VC.

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Competing interests: XB: Consulting fees: Abbvie, BMS, Eli-Lilly, Galapagos, Janssen, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Sandoz, Sanofi, UCB, Payment or honoraria for lectures: Abbvie, BMS, Eli-Lilly, Galapagos, Janssen, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, Sandoz, Sanofi, UCB, Advisory Board: Abbvie, Eli-Lilly, Galapagos, Janssen, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer, UCB. Leadership role: Editorial Board Member of Annals of Rheumatic Diseases, ASAS President. MØ: Consulting fees: Abbvie, BMS, Celgene, Eli-Lilly, Galapagos, Gilead, Hospira, Janssen, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer, UCB. Payment or honoraria for lectures: Abbvie, BMS, Eli-Lilly, Galapagos, Gilead, Janssen, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer, UCB. RGL: Consulting fees: Calyx, CARE Arthritis Ltd., Image Analysis Ltd. IE: Payment or honoraria for lectures: Abbvie, Novartis. PMM: consulting fees: Abbvie, BMS, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Galapagos, Janssen, MSD, Novartis, Orphazyme, Pfizer, Roche and UCB. Other financial or non-financial interests: Supported by the National Institute for Health Research (NIHR) University College London Hospitals (UCLH) Biomedical Research Centre (BRC). SJP: Consulting fees: Abbvie, UCB, Novartis (paid to the institution). Payment or honoraria for lectures: MSD, Pfizer, Abbvie, UCB, Novartis (paid to private account and to institution). Support for attending meetings: MSD, Pfizer, Abbvie, Novartis, Boehringer Ingelheim. Participation to Advisory Committee: Novartis, UCB, Abbvie. MdH: Grants: FWRO/FRSR, Leadership role: EDULAR Advocacy Committee. JS: Consulting fees: AbbVie, Novartis, UCB. Payment or honoraria for lectures: Abbvie, Merck, Novartis. Participate on Advisory Board: Abbvie, DP: Grants: AbbVie, Eli Lilly, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer. Consulting fees: AbbVie, Biocad, Eli Lilly, Gilead, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen, MSD, Moonlake, Novartis, Pfizer, Samsung Bioepis, UCB. Payment or honoraria for lectures: AbbVie, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Eli Lilly, Janssen, MSD, Medscape, Novartis, Peervoice, Pfizer, and UCB. Participation on Advisory Board: AbbVie, Biocad, Eli Lilly, Gilead, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen, MSD, Moonlake, Novartis, Pfizer, Samsung Bioepis, and UCB. MR: Consulting fees: Abbvie, Eli Lilly, Novartis, Pfizer, UCB. Payment or honoraria for lectures: Abbvie, BMS, Eli Lilly, Janssen, MSD, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, UCB. Support for attending meetings: Galapagos, Janssen, Novartis, Abbvie. DvdH: Consulting fees: AbbVie, Bayer, BMS, Cyxone, Eisai, Galapagos, Gilead, Glaxo-Smith-Kline, Janssen, Lilly, Novartis, Pfizer, UCB. Director of Imaging Rheumatology bv. Leadership role: Associate Editor of Annals of Rheumatic Diseases, Editorial Board Member Journal of Rheumatology, Advisory Committee RMD Open. RL: Grants: Research grants from Galapagos, AbbVie, Novartis, UCB (paid to institution). Consulting fees: AbbVie, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Galapagos, Gilead, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, UCB (paid to own company). Payment or honoraria for lectures: AbbVie, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Celgene, Eli Lilly, Galapagos, Gilead, GlaxoSmithKline, Janssen, Merck, Novartis, Pfizer, Roche, UCB (paid to own company). Participation on Advisory Board: UCB, AbbVie, Galapagos, Gilead, Eli Lilly, Jansen, Novartis, Pfizer (paid to own company). Data safety Monitoring Board: UCB (no compensation). Director of Rheumatology Consultancy. Partner of ‘Reumatologie Maatschap Sittard/Heerlen’ (paid to own company). Leadership role: Council Member and EULAR's chair of quality of care. Member of Editorial Board of Annals of Rheumatic Diseases. WPM: Grants: Abbvie, Galapagos, Novartis, Pfizer, UCB. Consulting fees: Abbvie, Boehringer Ingelheim, Celgene, Lilly, Novartis, Pfizer, UCB. Payment or honoraria for lectures: Abbvie, Janssen, Lilly, Novartis, Pfizer, UCB. Leadership role: SPARTAN Board of directors. Chief Medical Officer of CARE Arthritis Ltd.