title: Ultrasound in the assessment of musculoskeletal involvement in systemic sclerosis.
abstract: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a chronic connective disease in which the musculoskeletal involvement affects especially the hands and feet. Ultrasound (US) represents an important tool in the assessment of the joint and soft tissue involvement in this rheumatic disorder. Few authors have investigated the role of US in the evaluation of joints and peri-articular tissues in SSc patients. The current available literature regarding US applications in the assessment of musculoskeletal involvement in SSc has shown  that US seems to be a useful tool  in detecting the presence of inflammatory and structural abnormalities involving both joints and soft tissues. The aim of the present paper is to review the role of US in the assessment of musculoskeletal involvement in SSc.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina Interna e Specialità Mediche: Reumatologia, Sapienza Università di Roma, Italy. annamaria.iagnocco@uniroma1.it
authors.forename: Annamaria
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Iagnocco
authors.forename: Fulvia
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ceccarelli
authors.forename: Caterina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Vavala
authors.forename: Angelica
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Gattamelata
authors.forename: Chiara
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Scirocco
authors.forename: Iolanda Maria
authors.initials: IM
authors.lastname: Rutigliano
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Valesini
mesh_terms: D006801:Humans; D007596:Joints / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D009140:Musculoskeletal Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000209:etiology; D012595:Scleroderma, Systemic / Q000150:complications*; D014463:Ultrasonography