Definition for rheumatoid arthritis erosions imaged with high resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography and interreader reliability for detection and measurement

Objective: High-resolution peripheral quantitative computed tomography (HR-pQCT) sensitively detects erosions in rheumatoid arthritis (RA); however, nonpathological cortical bone disruptions are potentially misclassified as erosive. Our objectives were to set and test a definition for pathologic cortical bone disruptions in RA and to standardize reference landmarks for measuring erosion size.

Methods: HR-pQCT images of metacarpophalangeal joints of RA and control subjects were used in an iterative process to achieve consensus on the definition and reference landmarks. Independent readers (n = 11) applied the definition to score 58 joints and measure pathologic erosions in 2 perpendicular multiplanar reformations for their maximum width and depth. Interreader reliability for erosion detection and variability in measurements between readers [root mean square coefficient of variation (RMSCV), intraclass correlation (ICC)] were calculated.

Results: Pathologic erosions were defined as cortical breaks extending over a minimum of 2 consecutive slices in perpendicular planes, with underlying trabecular bone loss and a nonlinear shape. Interreader agreement for classifying pathologic erosions was 90.2%, whereas variability for width and depth erosion assessment was observed (RMSCV perpendicular width 12.3%, axial width 20.6%, perpendicular depth 24.0%, axial depth 22.2%; ICC perpendicular width 0.206, axial width 0.665, axial depth 0.871, perpendicular depth 0.783). Mean erosion width was 1.84 mm (range 0.16-8.90) and mean depth was 1.86 mm (range 0.30-8.00).

Conclusion: We propose a new definition for erosions visualized with HR-pQCT imaging. Interreader reliability for erosion detection is good, but further refinement of selection of landmarks for erosion size measurement, or automated volumetric methods, will be pursued.