Rheuma Day Pre-Learning - Axial Skeleton | BerlinCaseViewer by BerlinFlame GmbH

Rheuma Day Pre-Learning – Axial Skeleton

About the Course

This course is a curated collection of 12 interactive cases focused on axial skeleton imaging in patients with chronic back pain, in which the key reporting challenge is distinguishing inflammatory disease from degenerative or metabolic “look-alikes.” Across the set, you’ll work through the spectrum of axial spondyloarthritis (including non-radiographic and radiographic forms), learn to recognize and describe syndesmophytes and patterns of structural progression, and practice distinguishing typical axial SpA findings from important differentials such as diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH) and Scheuermann’s hyperkyphosis. Cases include radiographs, CT, and MRI, teaching text, and selected longitudinal/“time gap” examples to strengthen pattern recognition, terminology, and day-to-day decision-making in reporting. A short wrap-up video summarizing each case is provided by Kay G. Hermann or Torsten Diekhoff.

Learning Objectives

By the end of this course, learners will be able to:

Differentiate the imaging spectrum of axial spondyloarthritis—including non-radiographic versus radiographic disease—using pattern recognition and report-ready terminology.
Identify and characterize syndesmophytes and structural progression in axial SpA, and communicate their distribution and significance clearly in reports.
Distinguish axial SpA from key mimics, especially DISH and Scheuermann’s disease, by applying a practical checklist of imaging discriminators in spine (and when applicable, sacroiliac region) assessment.

List of cases

Diffuse idiopathic skeletal hyperostosis (DISH)
Axial spondyloarthritis, radiographic form (ankylosing spondylitis)
Non-radiographic axial spondyloarthritis
Scheuermann's hyperkyphosis (advanced stage)
DISH syndrome with lumbar spine and thoracic spine manifestations as well as SIG manifestations
Axial spondyloarthritis with syndesmophytes
Axial spondyloarthritis
Syndesmophytes in the context of axial spondyloarthritis

Authors

Kay G. Hermann

Dr. Hermann is a professor of radiology specialized in musculoskeletal imaging with a focus on arthritides. His research is dedicated mainly to the axial skeleton but the peripheral joints as well. The majority of his research projects are in the field of spondyloarthritis, where he is also connected with other researchers from Canada, UK, Germany, and Israel. He has also a strong track in applying innovative technology within medical education. He is an active member of ASAS, ESSR, DGMSR, and DRG and has won the Conrad Wilhelm Roentgen award in 2011, Felix Wachsmann award in 2014 and DVMB research prize in 2015. In 2019 he was promoted to associate professor.

Torsten Diekhoff

Dr. Torsten Diekhoff is an assistant professor and radiologist with a musculoskeletal focus, particularly in arthro and neuro sonography and interventions on the axial and peripheral skeleton. He obtained his Venia legendi at the Charité in Berlin, Germany, in 2019 with a thesis on "Dual-Energy Computed Tomography in Musculoskeletal Diagnostics." His research focuses on innovative imaging of the spine and joints including rheumatic and traumatic diseases. He was able to recruit a research grant from the Assessment of Spondyloarthritis international Society (ASAS) in 2014 and was honored with the Innovation Award of the German Society for Orthopaedics and Trauma Surgery in 2019.