Ultrasound in Rheumatology

Ultrasound effectively demonstrates joint effusion (excess fluid in joints), synovial thickening due to synovitis/synovial inflammation (thickening of the joint lining), cortical bone erosions (breakdown of adjacent bone), tendinosis and tenosynovitis (inflammation of tendon and the sheath surround the tendon). It can hence assess disease activity and severity in clinically apparent disease and detect subclinical disease/inflammation in clinically silent disease

Microflow imaging (MVI)/ Power Doppler (PD) is sensitive in detecting active inflammation via assessment of the synovial vascularity (blood flow).

Multiple joints can be assessed in the same sitting.

Monitoring Response: US can monitor response to treatment, disease progression or relapse.

It can be repeated multiple times with cost effective and rapid evaluation and no associated radiation.