LOCAL TREATMENT OF INFLAMMATORY JOINT DISEASES. BENEFITS AND RISKS

1.Safety of Medicines: Detection and Reporting Adverse Reactions
2.The Role of Synovial Macrophages in Rheumatoid Arthritis and Osteoarthritis: Its Implications for Radiosynovectomy
3.Intra-articular Corticosteroid Treatment of Inflammatory Joint Diseases
4.NSAIDs
5.Synovectomy of Rheumatoid Joints
6.Radiosynovectomy: Introduction and Overview of the Literature
7.Dosimetry and Radiation Exposure of Patients
8.Radiation Exposure of Medical Staff and Radiation Protection Measures
9.Local Complications After Radiosynovectomy and Possible Treatment Strategies: A Literature Survey
10.Risk of Cancer Induction
11.Baker’s Cysts: A Relevant Contraindication?

- Provides a systematic survey of local treatments, and their side
effects, in inflammatory joint
- Focuses especially on radiosynoviorthesis and its complications
- Explains possible treatment strategies
- Critically reviews radiation safety considerations

This book presents a systematic survey of different local treatments in inflammatory joint
diseases and their potential side effects and complications. Both surgical therapies and
pharmaceutical strategies involving local or systemic application of anti-inflammatory
and immunomodulating drugs are addressed. Special emphasis is placed on nuclear
medicine therapy by intra-articular instillation of beta radiation emitters, known as
radiosynoviorthesis or radiation synovectomy. Possible complications, in particular
radionecrosis, infection, and thromboembolism, are described and available treatment
strategies are examined in detail. In addition, radiation safety considerations are critically
reviewed and relevant clinical questions are discussed. 
While radiosynoviorthesis is an effective and safe treatment if a proper indication
is secured and if the application is performed by an experienced nuclear medicine
physician, local complications can never be excluded with certainty. This book will support
physicians who are engaged in the care and treatment of patients with inflammatory joint
disease, approximately 30,000 of whom undergo radiosynoviorthesis in Europe each year.