Figure 1From: The relationship between inflammation and new bone formation in patients with ankylosing spondylitisFormation of new syndesmophytes in the upper and lower edges of L1/L2 and L2/L3. (a) T1-pre-gadolinium (T1-pre-Gd) image. Spinal inflammation in the same area is assessed by both magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) sequences: (b) T1-post-gadolinium (T1-post-Gd) and (c) short-tau-inversion-recovery (STIR). Inflammation at baseline is seen as a 'spot' in the T1-post-Gd image only after application of gadolinium. The STIR image shows signs of inflammatory activity in the same vertebral regions. Formation of new syndesmophytes in the upper and lower edges of L1/L2 and L2/L3 is seen in conventional x-rays developing from (d) baseline to (e) 2 years later.Back to article page