Ultrasonography in RA: a very promising method still needing more validation

[Guest guest]

Curr Opin Rheumatol. 2004 May;16(3):223-30.

Ultrasonography in rheumatoid arthritis: a very promising method still

needing more validation.

OStergaard M, Wiell C.

Department of Rheumatology, Copenhagen University Hospitals at Herlev,

Hvidovre, Glostrup and Rigshospitalet, Copenhagen, Denmark.

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: Through recent technological advances,

ultrasonography allows high-resolution visualization of inflammatory and

destructive changes in the small superficial joints of hands and feet,

and ultrasonography is increasingly used by rheumatologists for

assessment of rheumatoid arthritis patients. It is, therefore, highly

relevant to consider the validity of ultrasonographic measures of

rheumatoid joint inflammation and damage. RECENT FINDINGS: Organized by

type of validity, data on ultrasonography in rheumatoid arthritis are

reviewed. Encouraging reports of high agreement of ultrasonographic

findings between observers, with MRI and, in knee and hip joints,

histopathologic assessments were recently published. New quantitative

and semiquantitative evaluation methods have been suggested, and the

first systematic follow-up studies suggest an ability of ultrasonography

to monitor joint inflammation and damage. However, a number of essential

issues are still largely unexplored, including interscanner variability,

sensitivity to change, prognostic value, and value in the diagnosis of

rheumatoid arthritis. Suggested areas of priority in research and

development of ultrasonography in rheumatoid arthritis are outlined.

SUMMARY: Ultrasonography is a very promising method in the assessment of

rheumatoid arthritis joints, but still needs more validation before it

can take up its expected role on a scientific basis as an important tool

for diagnosis, monitoring, and prognostication of patients with

rheumatoid arthritis and suspected rheumatoid arthritis.

PMID: 15103249

I'll tell you where to go!

Mayo Clinic in Rochester

http://www.mayoclinic.org/rochester

s Hopkins Medicine

http://www.hopkinsmedicine.org