Two localization patterns of vascularity demonstrated by power Doppler sonography at the suprapatellar recess in knee joints of patients with rheumatoid arthritis: intracapsular and supra-cortical.

Intraarticular vascularization in 54 knee joints of 27 patients with rheumatoid arthritis was examined by power Doppler sonography. Localization of the vascularity at the suprapatellar recess was classified into two patterns: intracapsular and supra-cortical. The patients with supra-cortical vascularization showed a tendency to higher grades of synovitis and higher levels of inflammatory laboratory indices than those with intracapsular vascularization.