High frequency of ultrasonographic effusion in interphalangeal joints of healthy subjects: a descriptive study.
OBJECTIVE
To describe echographic abnormalities on the proximal (PIP) and distal (DIP) interphalangeal joints of healthy subjects.


METHODS
Healthy asymptomatic volunteers under forty were enrolled. Ultrasonography was performed on PIP and DIP 2-5 in the presence of two operators. In B mode, synovial hypertophy and effusion were defined with the OMERACT criteria. In power Doppler mode, the inflammatory activity was evaluated.


RESULTS
46 subjects were enrolled: mean age 25.5 years, 89% right handed. 368 PIPs and DIPs were scanned. Effusion was found in 19.6% of dominant PIPs versus 22.3% of non-dominant PIPs (p>0.05). Effusion could be uni- or bilateral. DIP effusion was less frequent (3% DIPs). Average size of effusion was 0.83+/-0.25 mm for PIP and 0.72+/-0.16 mm for DIP.


CONCLUSIONS
Our study proposes a descriptive analysis of the PIP and the DIP joints. It confirms, with a bigger number of studied joints, the possible existence of a physiological effusion of the PIP of healthy subjects. It is the first descriptive study of the normal DIP where the presence of an effusion is very rare.
Rosenberg
Carole
C
Hôpital de La Pitié Salpêtrière, service de rhumatologie du Pr Bourgeois, 47-83, boulevard de l'hôpital, 75013 Paris, France. rosenbergcarole@yahoo.fr
Arrestier
Stéphanie
S
Etchepare
Fabien
F
Fautrel
Bruno
B
Rozenberg
Sylvie
S
Bourgeois
Pierre
P
D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D005384:Finger Joint / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013583:Synovial Membrane / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D018608:Ultrasonography, Doppler / Q000379:methods*