Imaging of crystal-induced arthropathies in 2025

Abstract

In recent years, imaging has become an essential tool in the assessment of crystal-induced arthropathies (CIAs), including gout, calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease, and basic calcium phosphate crystal deposition. Advances in imaging have improved diagnosis and disease monitoring, leading to its integration into classification criteria and clinical guidelines. Ultrasound (US), conventional radiography (CR), and dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) each offer unique advantages. US is a widely accessible, cost-effective, and dynamic tool, while DECT provides crystal-specific images, aiding particularly in gout diagnosis. CR, though less sensitive to early crystal deposition, remains valuable for evaluating structural damage and chronic changes. Despite these advances, challenges remain. The specificity and sensitivity of imaging findings need further validation, and the clinical relevance of certain imaging features is debated. This review summarizes recent developments, highlights key strengths, and discusses unresolved issues, emphasizing areas where future research is needed to optimize imaging use in CIAs.

Keywords: Basic calcium crystals; Calcium pyrophosphate deposition; Chondrocalcinosis; Conventional radiography; DECT; Dual-energy computed tomography; Gout; Ultrasound.