Role of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of rheumatic diseases in light of ACR/EULAR guidelines
In the past years, ultrasound imaging has become an integral element of the diagnostic process in rheumatic diseases. It enables the identification of a range of inflammatory changes in joint cavities, sheaths and bursae, and allows their activity to be assessed. In 2012, experts of the European...
Main Authors: | , , , |
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Format: | Article |
Language: | English |
Published: |
Medical Communications Sp. z o.o.
2016-03-01
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Series: | Journal of Ultrasonography |
Subjects: | |
Online Access: | http://jultrason.pl/index.php/issues/volume-16-no-64/role-of-ultrasonography-in-the-diagnosis-of-rheumatic-diseases-in-light-of-acr-eular-guidelines?aid=414 |
Summary: | In the past years, ultrasound imaging has become an integral element of the diagnostic
process in rheumatic diseases. It enables the identification of a range of inflammatory
changes in joint cavities, sheaths and bursae, and allows their activity to be
assessed. In 2012, experts of the European Society of Musculoskeletal Radiology prepared
recommendations concerning the role of ultrasonography in the diagnosis of
musculoskeletal diseases. Ultrasound was considered the method of choice in imaging
peripheral synovitis. Moreover, ultrasound imaging has been popularized thanks
to the new classification criteria for rheumatoid arthritis issued by the American College
of Rheumatology and European League Against Rheumatism in 2010. They underline
the role of ultrasound imaging in the detection of articular inflammatory changes
that are difficult to assess unambiguously in the clinical examination. These criteria
have become the basis for recommendations prepared by experts from the European
League Against Rheumatism concerning medical imaging in rheumatoid arthritis. Nine
of ten recommendations concern ultrasonography which is relevant in detecting diseases,
predicting their progression and treatment response, monitoring disease activity
and identifying remission. In the new criteria concerning polymyalgia rheumatica
from 2012, an ultrasound scan of the shoulder and pelvic girdle was considered an
alternative to clinical assessment. Moreover, the relevance of ultrasonography in the
diagnosis and monitoring of peripheral spondyloarthropathies was widely discussed
in 2014 during the meeting of the European League Against Rheumatism in Paris. |
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ISSN: | 2084-8404 2451-070X |