MRI of the spine in patients with suspected axial spondyloarthritis

This patient with ankylosing spondylitis demonstrates focal areas of inflammatory change as well as focal areas of fatty deposition. On the STIR sequence of the thoracic spine (A), the hyperintense inflammatory foci (arrows) are brighter on this sequence than on the T1 sequence (B, arrows). The areas of fatty deposition (arrowheads) are brighter on the T1 sequence (B) than on the STIR sequence (A).