Musculoskeletal Ultrasound in Rheumatology Review

Book excerpt: Point-of care ultrasound, or ultrasound performed and interpreted by the clinical in the clinic/office or at the bedside, has been rapidly expanding in use among multiple medical specialties. Musculoskeletal ultrasound has added value to clinical care to expedite diagnoses by visualizing mechanical versus inflammatory features and correlating these findings with patient’s symptoms. The use of power Doppler to assess for subclinical inflammation or active hyperemia has been a distinguishing use of ultrasound for rheumatologists. Accurate needle guidance with ultrasound for joint and tendon procedures has allowed expansion of procedures in the clinic and has been associated with less pain and precise targeting of affected structures. Musculoskeletal ultrasound education is now offered in nearly all rheumatology fellowship training programs in the United States and is also included in residency training in other specialties (e.g. physical medicine and rehabilitation, orthopedics, podiatry, emergency medicine, and family medicine). Since the publication of the first edition of Musculoskeletal Ultrasound in Rheumatology Review, there has been tremendous growth of musculoskeletal ultrasound in the field of rheumatology as well as other musculoskeletal specialties. The expanded second edition of this practical guide provides an updated clinical review of diagnostic and interventional applications of musculoskeletal ultrasound in rheumatology. New and revised chapters focus on the use of ultrasound in the diagnosis of specific rheumatic diseases such as osteoarthritis, scleroderma, psoriatic arthritis, gout, and lupus. Each chapter covers a standardized protocol of joint images with probe placement and includes numerous examples of common ultrasound pathologies. Study tools such as key-concept overviews, lists of important studies in the field, and extensive questions for self-assessment are included throughout. Written by current experts and thought leaders in the rapidly advancing field of rheumatology ultrasound, the second edition of Musculoskeletal Ultrasound in Rheumatology Review is an essential reference for physicians and related professionals, residents, fellows, graduate students and nurses in rheumatology, imaging and radiology, sports medicine, internal medicine, and physiotherapy.