Arthrography - What You Need to Know

Has your doctor discussed arthrography with you as part of determining why you may be having joint pain or joint stiffness, among other arthritis symptoms? Arthrography is an imaging technique that involves injecting a contrast agent into a joint prior to taking x-rays. The iodine-based contrast is injected into the joint cavity alone or combined with air so that structures within the joint can be assessed. When iodine is injected in to the soft tissues around a joint, it appears bright white on the arthrogram (the images produced by arthrography), allowing the doctor who reads the arthrogram to view the anatomy of the joint and assess joint function.

Conventional arthrography is helpful for detecting, with accuracy, certain arthritic or orthopedic conditions. Besides conventional arthrography, there is magnetic resonance arthrography, where the joint is distended with contrast agent that contains gadolinium. Learn more about this diagnostic technique in Arthrography - What You Need to Know.

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• What Is Joint Effusion?
• Is MRI Needed to Diagnose Osteoarthritis?
• Thermal Imaging Camera Used to Detect Arthritis

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