Ultrasonography is effective in the evaluation of joint involvement in patients with rheumatic diseases, and may be useful in diagnosis and in monitoring the synovial inflammation by power Doppler technique, with great sensitivity in comparison with clinical examination. The high-resolution US combined with power Doppler technique is also able to detect the peripheral entheseal abnormality, the bone erosion and the tendon involvement. The purpose of this book is to elucidate the examination technique, the sonographic changes in musculoskeletal rheumatic involvement and the ultrasound assessment of joint rheumatic diseases. The atlas is enriched with several figures, in which the US picture is compared with that of conventional radiography, CT and MRI.
Equipment and examination technique generalities. Equipment. Examination technique. Artifacts. Doppler technologies. Echo-contrast agents.- Technical examination procedure. Thoracic and abdominal wall. Upper extremity. Lower extremity.- Sonographic and power Doppler normal anatomy. Cartilage. Synovial spaces. Tendons and ligaments. Muscles. Nerves. Dermis and hypodermis.- Sonographic changes in musculoskeletal rheumatic involvement. Cartilage. Synovial spaces. Tendons and ligaments. Muscles. Nerves. Dermis and hypodermis.- Pathologic findings in rheumatic diseases. Osteoarthritis. Rheumatoid arthritis. Seronegative spondyloarthritis. Crystal-related arthropathies. Connective tissue disorders. Metabolic diseases. Synovial osteochondromatosis. Pigmented villonodular synovitis. Septic arthritis. Hemophiliac arthropathy. Primitive and peripheral entrapment neuropathies. Rheumatology in sport.- Ultrasonography and therapy monitoring.- Ultrasound-guided procedures.
