Clinical utility of musculoskeletal ultrasound in rheumatic diseases

Musculoskeletal ultrasound(MSUS) had wisely using in rheumatology practice and research, including diagnostic role, prognostic and predictive role, intervetion treatment. MSUS is more sensitive than clinical examination, plain radiography and more feasible than MRI. MSUS is a useful tool in the diagnosis and localization of synovitis and minimal bone erosion in rheumatoid arthritis. Enthesopathy which the most important pathologic finding in seronegative spondyloarthropathy is more sensitive in MSUS then clinical exmaintion. Ligament, muscle, peripheral nerve and cartilage pathology can also be readily demonstrated by MSUS. Osteoarthritis, crystal related arthritis, and wide variety of rheumatic diseases had showed the importance of MSUS findings in assesses treatment response and guide clinical management. This paper reviews the evidence for the application of MSUS in rheumatic disease.