Abstract
In the early stage of sacroilitis, it is'difficult to detect sacroiliac(Sl) abnormalities by conventional plain X-ray even though there are characteristic symptoms of ankylosing spondylitis. 3 dimensional volume rendering from the CT image was performed to make an early de tection of the structural changes of Sl joint. 2 cases who had clinical impression of ankylosing spondylitis without sacroilitis in plane X-ray and 1 case of typical ankylosing spondylitis as well as 1 case of normal control were studied. The Sl Joints were separated and each joint surface of sacrum and ilium was independently reconstructed by a special 3D manipulation program. All 2 patiant who complained of inflammatory lower back pain with no abnormal findings in the plain X-ray showed structural changes in 3 dimensionally reconstructed surface Image of the Sl joint compared to the normal control. Authors tried several parameters, such as fourler analysis of each surface and the mean and variance of Sl joint gap. We couldn't tell the statistical significance because of the limited number of cases. However, the parameters showed difference according to the progression of disease.
