title: Current state of musculoskeletal ultrasound in paediatric rheumatology: results of an international survey.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of this study was to investigate the current use of musculoskeletal US (MSUS) and the most relevant areas of interest for this imaging modality in paediatric rheumatology.
  
  
  METHODS
  A questionnaire was developed by the paediatric subgroup of the OMERACT US task force and e-mailed to the members of the main international paediatric rheumatology networks and societies. Responses were entered in an electronic database. Results were analysed quantitatively or summarized qualitatively in the case of open questions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The overall response rate was 36% (262/719). The use of MSUS varied among members of the various networks/societies. MSUS was considered of high relevance for improvement of diagnostic skills, for the guidance of joint injections and for the assessment of specific joints, namely the hip, ankle, midfoot and wrist. It was considered useful for early detection of synovitis and in determining disease activity and disease remission.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although at present MSUS is not widely used by paediatric rheumatologists, there is considerable interest in this imaging technology among members of the international networks. The results of this survey suggest that the next objective in the research agenda should be the standardization of the assessment of joints in healthy children. This will then help differentiate pathological (i.e. synovitic) joints from normal joints. The initial target joints should be the hip, ankle, midfoot and wrist. MSUS training focused on the assessment of paediatric patients might be very important in implementing the use of this technique in clinical practice and research.
authors.affiliation: Paediatric Rheumatology, IRCCS Ospedale Pediatrico Bambino Gesù, Piazza Sant'Onofrio 4, 00165 Rome, Italy. silvia.magnimanzoni@opbg.net.
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Magni-Manzoni
authors.forename: Paz
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Collado
authors.forename: Sandrine
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Jousse-Joulin
authors.forename: Esperanza
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Naredo
authors.forename: Maria-Antonietta
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: D'Agostino
authors.forename: Valentina
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Muratore
authors.forename: Pietro
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Merli
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Roth
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000843:Ankle Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003625:Data Collection; D033023:Foot Joints / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006621:Hip Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D038622:Internationality; D009141:Musculoskeletal System / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000592:standards / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D014955:Wrist Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging
keywords: OMERACT task force; juvenile arthritis; musculoskeletal ultrasound; paediatric rheumatology networks; survey