Evaluating Replacement of Standard-of-care Low Dose Computer Tomography (CT) Scans With Radiation-free Bone Imaging by Deep-learning Augmented Zero Echo Time (DL-ZTE) Magnetic Resonance Tomography (MRT)

Single-center Prospective Comparison of Diagnostic Performance of Deep-learning Agumented UTE/ZTE MRI Sequences and Standard-of-care Low Dose CT for Rheumatologic Patients With Musculoskeletal Disease

The goal of this clinical trial is to determine how effectively bone structures of the human skeleton can be visualized using Deep Learning (DL) augmented Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) in individuals with inflammatory and degenerative joint changes, compared to Computed Tomography (CT). MRI is a technique that operates without the use of X-rays. The main question it aims to answer is:

1. Can DL MRI accurately depict bone structures as well as CT?
2. Can DL MRI be used as an alternative to CT to avoid exposure to X-rays in the future?

Researchers will compare DL MRI scans to CT scans to see if DL MRI can effectively replace CT in visualizing bone structures without the use of radiation.

Participants will:

1. Undergo MRI scans of their skeletal system that will then be processed using DL.
2. Undergo CT scans of the same body region for comparison purposes.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Referral for a clinically indicated MRI examination of the musculoskeletal system to assess inflammatory and degenerative joint changes.
• Willingness to sign the informed consent form.
• No contraindications for a CT examination (e.g., claustrophobia).

Exclusion Criteria:

• No signed informed consent form.
• Patients under 18 years of age.
• Pregnant women.
• The calculated effective dose of the CT examination exceeds 5 mSv.