title: Usefulness of ultrasound imaging in detecting psoriatic arthritis of fingers and toes in patients with psoriasis.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Given that clinical evaluation may underestimate the joint damage and that early treatment can slow down psoriatic arthritis (PsA) progression, screening psoriasis patients with imaging tools that can depict early PsA changes would entail clear benefits.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To compare the ability of X-ray and ultrasound (US) examination in detecting morphological abnormalities consistent with early PsA in patients with psoriasis, using rheumatological evaluation as the gold standard for diagnosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients with chronic plaque psoriasis and no previous PsA diagnosis attending our outpatient dermatology clinic and reporting finger/toe joint and/or tendon pain underwent X-ray and US evaluation; they were subsequently referred to a rheumatologist for clinical examination and review of imaging findings.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Abnormal US and/or X-ray findings involving at least one finger and/or toe (joints and/or tendons) were seen in 36/52 patients: 11 had one or more X-ray abnormalities, including erosion, joint space narrowing, new bone formation, periarticular soft tissue swelling, and periarticular osteoporosis; 36 had suspicious changes on US.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  US proved valuable in detecting joint and/or tendon abnormalities in the fingers and toes of patients with suspicious changes. The dermatologist should consider US to obtain an accurate assessment of suspicious findings.
authors: Department of Dermatology, Catholic University of the Sacred Heart, Rome, Italy.
authors: Clara
authors: C
authors: De Simone
authors: Giacomo
authors: G
authors: Caldarola
authors: Magda
authors: M
authors: D'Agostino
authors: Angelo
authors: A
authors: Carbone
authors: Cristina
authors: C
authors: Guerriero
authors: Lorenzo
authors: L
authors: Bonomo
authors: Pierluigi
authors: P
authors: Amerio
authors: Nicola
authors: N
authors: Magarelli
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D015535:Arthritis, Psoriatic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003952:Diagnostic Imaging; D042241:Early Diagnosis; D005260:Female; D005384:Finger Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005385:Fingers / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010045:Outpatients; D011379:Prognosis; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011859:Radiography; D012219:Rheumatology; D013710:Tendons / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014033:Toe Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014034:Toes / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014463:Ultrasonography