Whole-body magnetic resonance imaging in rheumatology: advancements, key applications and future perspectives

Whole-body magnetic resonance imaging (WB-MRI) is widely used in rheumatology to assess peripheral and axial joints and entheses throughout the body. Despite some limitations, it has potential in determining the overall inflammatory burden, tracking disease progression, and evaluating treatment response. It is used in the evaluation of idiopathic inflammatory myositis (IIM) or in the pediatric population where it is becoming the gold standard for the diagnosis and monitoring of conditions, such as juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and chronic recurrent multifocal osteomyelitis (CRMO). In addition to advancements in technology and the development of WB-MRI scoring systems, the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) may improve diagnostic accuracy by automating assessments and enabling early detection of subclinical inflammation. The aim of this review is to examine the current scientific evidence for the use of WB-MRI in rheumatology.