Espondiloartritis anquilosante: revisión de hallazgos imagenológicos en la columna / Ankylosing spondyloarthritis: review of spinal imaging findings

Abstract: Introduction. Ankylosing spondyloarthritis (AS) is the most common and representative of seronegative spondyloarthropathy. It is characterised by chronic inflammation of the axial skeleton, leading to chronic back pain and progressive stiffness. It typically occurs in young patients, with symptoms often appearing with peak onset between 20 and 30 years of age, and is strongly associated with human leukocyte antigen B-27 (HLA B-27). Current imaging techniques are central in the management of these patients. The recognition of its classic imaging findings and its complications is essential for radiologists. Objectives. To present a pictorial review of the spinal imaging findings in patients with AS. Methods and materials. An analysis will be made of the spinal imaging findings in conventional radiography, CT and MRI in multiple patients from our medical centre. The most representative findings, complications, differential diagnoses, and some radiological key points will be shown.

Resumen: Introducción. La espondilitis anquilosante (EA) es la artropatía seronegativa más común y representativa. Se caracteriza por inflamación crónica del esqueleto axial, dolor referido a la columna vertebral de tipo inflamatorio y rigidez progresiva. Típicamente se manifiesta en pacientes jóvenes que inician su sintomatología entre los 20-30 años de edad y está ligada al antígeno leucocitario humano B-27 (HLA B-27). Las imágenes son fundamentales en el manejo de estos pacientes. Es deber del radiólogo reconocer los hallazgos imagenológicos presentes. Objetivos. Realizar una revisión pictográfica de hallazgos imagenológicos presentes en la columna vertebral de pacientes portadores de EA. Material y método. Análisis de las manifestaciones imagenológicas de columna más representativas de la EA en pacientes de nuestro centro en radiografía convencional, TC y RM, junto con posibles complicaciones y diagnósticos diferenciales.

Hallazgos imagenológicos en la enfermedad pleuropulmonar asociada al asbesto / Imaging findings in pleuropulmonary disease associated with asbestos

Abestos-related pleuropulmonary disease involves a number of pathologic conditions that share inhalation exposure to asbestos fibers as a common factor. Dose and time of exposure have a role in the clinical manifestations of it, the main ones being benign pleural disease, asbestosis, malignant mesothelioma and bronchogenic carcinoma. Despite the ban on asbestos material usage in Chile, there is a long latency between exposure and clinical manifestations, which lead to it being still a relevant public health issue to this day. We present a series of representative images of abestos-related pleuropulmonary disease diagnosed at our centre. The pathogeny and radiologic manifestations are discussed, with an emphasis on the latter.