Three-Dimensional Quantitative Magnetic Resonance Imaging Cartilage Evaluation of the Hand Joints of Systemic Sclerosis Patients: A Novel Insight on Hand Osteoarthritis Pathogenesis-Preliminary Report.

Quantitative MRI analysis of the joints of the hands of SSc patients does not indicate changes in thickness of the articular cartilage. A significant reduction in the articular cartilage thickness of the fingers with acro-osteolysis indicates the potential of an ischemic basis of articular cartilage destruction in SSc patients.