RA Diagnostic Test: Joint X-rays

RA Diagnostic Test: Joint X-rays

Another test used to diagnose rheumatoid arthritis is X-ray. Early in the disease X-rays are not as helpful because they do not show soft tissue damage, but they can be useful in later stages to monitor how the disease progresses over time because they show bone erosion. Other imaging tests used may include bone density scans (DXA or DEXA scans), ultrasound, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).