New Scans Spot Psoriatic Arthritis

Positron emission tomography (PET) scans using special tracers can help doctors spot psoriatic arthritis (PsA) in its early stages. PsA causes joint damage and bone changes, which these scans can pick up. Researchers compared two types of PET scans—68Ga-FAPI and 18F-NaF—to see which works better. 68Ga-FAPI PET/CT looks for fibroblast activation protein, which is active in PsA. 18F-NaF PET/CT tracks bone formation. The study wanted to see if 68Ga-FAPI could spot PsA just as well as the common 18F-NaF.Researchers found that both scans could detect PsA, but 68Ga-FAPI might have an edge. It showed more details and was more sensitive to the disease. This means it could help doctors catch PsA earlier. Why does this matter? Early detection can lead to quicker treatment and better outcomes for patients. It also helps understand the disease's progress better.