Ultrasound imaging for the rheumatologist V. Ultrasonography of the ankle and foot.
Ultrasonography (US) is a useful tool for imaging, which can be used for the assessment of joints and periarticular structures in all rheumatological disorders. In patients with pain and/or swelling of the ankle and foot, US provides information about the presence of joint effusion, synovitis, tenosynovitis, tendinosis, and tendons tears, helping in the differential diagnosis between joint or tendon/enthesis involvement. Moreover, US allows clinicians to monitor and guide needle positioning to inject pharmaceutical substances more safely and effectively even in hard-to-reach sites. US represents an accurate, safe and low-cost technique that can be used for the examination of the ankle and foot in rheumatic disorders.
Riente
L
L
Cattedra di Reumatologia, Università di Pisa, Pisa, Italy. l.riente@int.med.unipi.it
Delle Sedie
A
A
Iagnocco
A
A
Filippucci
E
E
Meenagh
G
G
Valesini
G
G
Grassi
W
W
Bombardieri
S
S
D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D033023:Foot Joints / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D012219:Rheumatology / Q000379:methods; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods