With the exception of laboratory tests, imaging remains the primary diagnostic and monitoring tool that guides rheumatologists along the course of a patient's journey with rheumatic and musculoskeletal disease. While conventional x-ray, based on cost, accessibility and decades of studies attesting to validity, remains the method of choice for evaluating structural damage in various forms of arthritis, the complex nature of RMDs and the often parallel and intertwined involvement of multiple organ systems necessitates the utilization of a wide range of modern imaging techniques, including but not limited to musculoskeletal ultrasound, magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography or positron emission tomography. These methods often deliver a breadth of information on multiple facets of RMDs from inflammation through crystal deposition to structural damage and beyond, encompassing the full gestalt of these diseases. The articles in this special issue will aim to shed light on the many faces of RMDs as on the many ways in which imaging may play a role in their management.

Keywords: Imaging, ultrasound, outcome measure, magnetic resonance imaging, computed tomography, positron emission tomography