title: Ultrasound of the knee.
abstract: Ultrasound is emerging as a viable imaging modality in the diagnosis and assessment of the musculoskeletal system. Advantages of ultrasound include its easy availability and multiplanar capability, as well as economic advantages. Unlike magnetic resonance imaging, ultrasound demonstrates the fibrillar microanatomy of tendons, ligaments and muscles, enhancing its diagnostic capability. The ability to compress. dynamically assess structures and compare easily with the contralateral side is advantageous. The patient's exact point of clinical tenderness can be correlated with underlying anatomical structures and associated pathology. The main strength of knee ultrasound is the assessment of para-articular disease. The specific structures best suited for ultrasound assessment include tendons, muscles and ligaments, as well as periarticular soft tissue masses. Joint effusions, synovial thickening, bursal fluid collections, intra-articular loose bodies, ganglion cysts, ligament and tendons tears, tendonitis and occult fractures can be diagnosed. With experience, ultrasound is a time-efficient, economical imaging tool for assessment of the knee.
authors.affiliation: Diagnostic Imaging, Guelph General Hospital, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Friedman
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Finlay
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Jurriaans
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001265:Athletic Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002062:Bursitis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002358:Cartilage, Articular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002648:Child; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D007717:Knee / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D007718:Knee Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D008023:Ligaments, Articular / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008592:Menisci, Tibial / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries; D010007:Osteochondritis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011151:Popliteal Cyst / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011187:Posture; D013581:Synovial Cyst / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013708:Tendon Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013710:Tendons / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014463:Ultrasonography