Ultrasound imaging for the rheumatologist. XVIII. Ultrasound measurements.

One of the largest challenges to the field of musculoskeletal ultrasonography is attempting to accurately quantify the changes seen in chronic arthritis. With advances in ultrasound technology, researchers have been increasingly exploring ways of more accurately assessing these changes and attempting to reach consensus with agreed scoring systems. This review presents the main scoring systems developed for quantifying sonographic findings indicative of synovitis and joint damage in patients with rheumatoid arthritis. Further investigation is required to attain international consensus on such scoring systems and to evaluate their impact on therapeutic decision-making.