THE RELIABILITY AND DIAGNOSTIC ACCURACY OF DIGITAL TOMOSYNTHESIS COMPARED WITH CONVENTIONAL RADIOGRAPHY FOR THE INVESTIGATION OF SACROILIITIS

Abstract

Background: Conventional radiography remains part of the diagnosis of axial spondyloarthritis and determines qualification for biologic disease modifying anti-rheumatic drugs in many countries. The standard anteroposterior radiograph (XR) incompletely images the complex sacroiliac joint with recognised unacceptably low levels of agreement between readers. Digital tomosynthesis (DTS) uses conventional radiographic projections to create a three-dimensional image and is a potential alternative for the initial radiographic detection and grading of sacroiliitis. Objectives: To compare the level of agreement between two radiologists when reporting sacroiliac joint imaging with digital tomosynthesi..