[Joint pain of undetermined origin--evaluation method].
The most important diagnostic steps in the initial, non-specialist evaluation of joint pains are the careful anamnesis, clinical examination and laboratory tests for inflammations parameters and for infectious and autoimmune serologies. The arthrocentesis and consecutive analysis of synovial fluid, the interpretation of which, due to their complexity, lie in the hands of rheumatologists and most often allow the clear differentiation of non-inflammatory versus inflammatory causes. Conventional radiology is seldom diagnostic but a prerequisite for monitoring the course of the joint disease. Arthrosonography is cost-effective and often provides additional information besides clinical examination. More expensive diagnostic procedures such as arthroscopy, magnetic resonance imaging, scintigraphy and CT are reserved for more specific clinical situations.
Seitz
M
M
Klinik für Rheumatologie und Klinische Immunologie/Allergologie, Universitätsspital, Bern. michael.seitz@insel.ch
Villiger
P M
PM
D000465:Algorithms; D018771:Arthralgia / Q000209:etiology*; D001168:Arthritis / Q000209:etiology*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests