Toggle Main Menu Toggle Search

Open Access padlockePrints

Musculoskeletal ultrasound - A state of the art review in rheumatology. Part 2: Clinical indications for musculoskeletal ultrasound in rheumatology

Lookup NU author(s): Dr David Kane

Downloads

Full text for this publication is not currently held within this repository. Alternative links are provided below where available.


Abstract

Rheumatologists remain divided on whether they should introduce musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS) into their clinical practice. A central issue in the application of MSUS in clinical rheumatology is the need for proof of clinical relevance and improved patient care. There is now accumulating evidence that MSUS improves clinical diagnosis and intervention skills. High-resolution ultrasound is superior to clinical examination in the diagnosis and localization of joint and bursal effusion and synovitis. MSUS is the imaging modality of choice for the diagnosis of tendon pathology. MSUS is seven times more sensitive than plain radiography in the detection of rheumatoid erosions, allowing earlier diagnosis of progressive rheumatoid arthritis. Ligament, muscle, peripheral nerve and cartilage pathology can also be readily demonstrated by MSUS. There is exciting evidence that MSUS may potentially be used by rheumatologists to non-invasively diagnose and monitor not just joint and muscle disease but also nerve compression syndromes, scleroderma, vasculitis and Sjögren's syndrome. Joint aspiration and injection accuracy can be improved by MSUS, with initial evidence confirming improved efficacy. As the number of rheumatologists performing MSUS increases and the technical capabilities of MSUS improve, there is likely to be a growing number of proven clinical indications for the application of MSUS in rheumatology practice. This paper reviews the evidence for the application of MSUS in rheumatology. © British Society for Rheumatology 2004; all rights reserved.


Publication metadata

Author(s): Kane D, Grassi W, Sturrock R, Balint PV

Publication type: Review

Publication status: Published

Journal: Rheumatology

Year: 2004

Volume: 43

Issue: 7

Pages: 829-838

ISSN (print): 1462-0324

ISSN (electronic): 1462-0332

URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1093/rheumatology/keh215

DOI: 10.1093/rheumatology/keh215

PubMed id: 15161981


Share