Abnormal sonographic findings in the asymptomatic arthritic shoulder.
OBJECTIVE
To assess the diagnostic value of ultrasonography (US) in the evaluation of arthritic shoulder joints, especially in painless shoulders.


METHODS
US examinations were performed in 57 consecutive patients with rheumatoid arthritis (114 shoulders) and in 32 controls (32 shoulders), using a 7.5 MHz linear probe and a standardized study protocol. US findings were compared with clinical, laboratory, and radiological data to find any relationship.


RESULTS
Abnormal sonographic findings were found in 80 shoulders (70%); the most common were lesions in the supraspinatus tendon (38%), subacromial-subdeltoid bursitis (29%), bone erosions of the humeral head (20%), glenohumeral joint ellusion (19%), and biceps tendinitis (13%). Although US abnormalities were most frequent in patients with painful shoulders or abnormal findings on physical examination or radiography, a high rate of alterations was found in asymptomatic shoulders (51%), in normal shoulders on physical examination (44%) and in normal shoulders on radiographic assessment (61%). Differences of US findings in relation to time of evolution of rheumatoid arthritis, patient's age, and radiographic stage in hand and/or wrist joints were not found.


CONCLUSIONS
US abnormalities in the shoulder joint are frequent in rheumatoid arthritis, both in patients with and without shoulder complaints as well as in patients with normal findings on physical examination.
Naranjo
A
A
Section of Rheumatology, Hospital Universitario de Gran Canaria Dr. Negrin, Las Palmas de Gran Canaria, Spain. anaranjo@correo.hpino.rcanaria.es
Marrero-Pulido
T
T
Ojeda
S
S
Francisco
F
F
Erausquin
C
C
Rúa-Figueroa
I
I
Rodríguez-Lozano
C
C
Hernández-Socorro
C R
CR
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011859:Radiography; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012217:Rheumatoid Factor / Q000032:analysis; D012218:Rheumatoid Nodule; D012785:Shoulder Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014463:Ultrasonography
D012217:Rheumatoid Factor