title: Ultrasonography in pediatric rheumatology in Latin America. Expanding the frontiers.
abstract: For the past two decades, musculoskeletal ultrasonography (MSKUS) has developed exponentially and has become an essential tool in rheumatology practice. This development has been far more limited in pediatric rheumatology which is partially related to deficits in the evidence base. Many studies have shown that MSKUS is more sensitive than the clinical examination for detecting synovitis and enthesitis in adults. At the same time, there is a lack of studies demonstrating its validity, reliability, and reproducibility in pediatric rheumatology. In addition, clear definitions for the normal pediatric joint and enthesis as well as various findings in pathology associated with juvenile idiopathic arthritis (JIA) and juvenile spondyloarthritis (JSpA) have only started to emerge. Most of this work is being done through the Outcome Measurement in Rheumatology Clinical Trials (OMERACT) ultrasound pediatric task force but the Pan American League of Associations for Rheumatology (PANLAR) US Pediatric Task Force is also working on validating MSKUS in children. In addition, several MSKUS courses for pediatric rheumatologists have been offered in Latin American countries; these will not only complement the scientific work pediatric-specific ultrasonography training, but also represents an essential component for the successful implementation of this technique into daily practice as well.
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Ultrasonido Musculoesquelético, Instituto Nacional de Rehabilitación, Calzada México-Xochimilco 289, Col. Arenal de Guadalupe, Del. Tlalpan, 14389, México, D.F., Mexico. cristy_hernandez@prodigy.net.mx.
authors.forename: Cristina
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hernández-Díaz
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Ultrasonido Musculoesquelético, Instituto Nacional de Rehabilitación, Calzada México-Xochimilco 289, Col. Arenal de Guadalupe, Del. Tlalpan, 14389, México, D.F., Mexico.
authors.forename: Lucio
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Ventura-Ríos
authors.affiliation: Laboratorio de Ultrasonido Musculoesquelético, Instituto Nacional de Rehabilitación, Calzada México-Xochimilco 289, Col. Arenal de Guadalupe, Del. Tlalpan, 14389, México, D.F., Mexico.|Clinica Reumatologica, Università Politecnica delle Marche, Jesi, Ancona, Italy.
authors.forename: Marwin
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Gutiérrez
authors.affiliation: University of Ottawa and Division of Pediatric Rheumatology, Children's Hospital of Eastern Ontario, Ottawa, ON, Canada.
authors.forename: Johannes
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Roth
mesh_terms: D001171:Arthritis, Juvenile / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D001172:Arthritis, Rheumatoid / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000628:therapy; D035843:Biomedical Research / Q000639:trends; D002648:Child; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D004503:Education, Medical, Graduate; D006801:Humans; D007843:Latin America; D008611:Mentors; D018482:Muscle, Skeletal / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D010372:Pediatrics / Q000193:education* / Q000379:methods; D010820:Physicians; D012219:Rheumatology / Q000193:education* / Q000379:methods; D012955:Societies, Medical; D014463:Ultrasonography / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*
keywords: Education; Latin America; Pediatric musculoskeletal ultrasound; Training