title: Evolution in the use of musculoskeletal ultrasonography in a Rheumatology Unit over 14 years.
abstract: The aim of this article is to evaluate the use of musculoskeletal ultrasound in the daily clinical practice of a rheumatology unit. We conducted a descriptive retrospective analysis of the ultrasound examinations performed during 2011 and a comparison of these examinations with those performed between 1998 and 2003 and between 2007 and 2008. A total of 712 ultrasound examinations performed in 2011 were reviewed. Out of the total, examinations of individual areas of the body represented 11.6% versus 45.9% of the examinations made between 2007 and 2008 and 100% of those performed before 2003. The remaining 88.4% of ultrasound examinations performed in 2011 were intended to investigate inflammation in 25.8%, differential diagnosis of arthralgia in 17.1%, enthesis in 12.6% and temporal arteries in 17.3%, and to conduct ultrasound-guided procedures in 10.6% and study microcrystalline pathologies in 4.7%. In our unit, ultrasonography is evolving from being a mere investigation of individual areas of the body to becoming a clinical information tool, which contributes to the diagnosis and monitoring of the disease activity in the patient as a whole.
authors.affiliation: Hospital General Universitario de Alicante. susanagilbarato@outlook.com.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Gil Barato
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: de Miguel Mendieta
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Martin-Mola
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000842:Ankle / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D018771:Arthralgia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D050824:Carpal Joints / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D050823:Hand Joints / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011151:Popliteal Cyst / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012216:Rheumatic Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012219:Rheumatology; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D012782:Shoulder / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods*; D018084:Ultrasonography, Interventional / Q000379:methods