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Jun 27, 2025

MRI Reveals Joint Damage After Cancer Treatment

According to a UK study, whole-body MRI showed that patients with arthralgia who had previously received immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy had similar levels of inflammation and erosions as those

According to a UK study, whole-body MRI showed that patients with arthralgia who had previously received immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy had similar levels of inflammation and erosions as those with clinical arthritis, with distinct imaging patterns.

"[The study] results suggest that the overall burden of musculoskeletal toxicity associated with immune checkpoint inhibitors is currently under-recognised and highlights the range and extent of inflammation in all patients presenting with new musculoskeletal symptoms after exposure to an immune checkpoint inhibitor. Rheumatology assessment should be considered by oncologists for patients who develop arthralgia alone," the authors wrote.

This study was led by Kate Harnden, MBChB, Leeds Institute of Rheumatic and Musculoskeletal Medicine, Leeds, England. It was published online on June 10, 2025, in The Lancet Rheumatology.

Feet and ankles were not imaged during the study due to logistical constraints. The 6-month follow-up period was relatively short for determining long-term musculoskeletal outcomes. Some patients were classified as having non-specific inflammation patterns, whose significance was unclear. A few participants had preexisting autoimmune diseases, possibly increasing their baseline risk for arthritis. Additionally, intra-assessor agreement was not measured.

This study received support from the National Institute for Health and Care Research Leeds Biomedical Research Centre. One author reported receiving a EULAR bursary travel award, and some authors reported having financial ties with various sources. Details are provided in the original article.

This article was created using several editorial tools, including AI, as part of the process. Human editors reviewed this content before publication.

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