Ultrasound imaging for the rheumatologist. XVI. Ultrasound-guided procedures.

Ultrasonography (US) has proved to be a useful tool for the clinical evaluation of patients with rheumatic diseases. It is also recognised as a useful imaging technique in interventional radiology. In the last few years, a number of rheumatologists have also described and advocated the use of US guidance in joint and soft tissue aspiration and injection technique in clinical practice. Moreover, US-guided synovial biopsy methods have been proposed as an interesting and reliable method for the histopathological assessment of small and large joint sinovium. The present review provides an update of the available data regarding the use of US in interventional procedures in clinical rheumatology.