Value of contrast-enhanced ultrasound in rheumatoid arthritis.
The purpose of this review is to describe the spectrum of sonographic findings in rheumatic diseases with respect to the diagnostic potential using US contrast media which prove activity or inactivity in synovial tissue where new treatment regimes target. Synovial activity can be found in non-erosive and erosive forms of primary and secondary osteoarthritis, and in inflammatory forms of joint diseases like rheumatoid arthritis and peripheral manifestations of spondyloarthritis including, ankylosing spondylitis, Reiter's syndrome, psoriatic arthritis and enteropathic arthritis. It can also be present in metabolic and endocrine forms of arthritis, in connective tissue arthropathies like systemic lupus erythematosus or scleroderma and in infectious arthritis. Ultrasound should be used as first-line imaging modality in suspected early cases of RA and other forms of arthritis, whereas contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) can further enable for sensitive assessment of vascularity which correlates with disease activity.
De Zordo
Tobias
T
Department of Radiology II, Medical University Innsbruck, Anichstrasse 35, 6020 Innsbruck, Austria.
Mlekusch
Sabine P
SP
Feuchtner
Gudrun M
GM
Mur
Erich
E
Schirmer
Michael
M
Klauser
Andrea S
AS
D001168:Arthritis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D003287:Contrast Media; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D010003:Osteoarthritis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D025242:Spondylarthropathies / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler / Q000379:methods
D003287:Contrast Media