BACKGROUND: Ultrasonography continues to gain in importance in musculoskeletal diagnostics and has become the imaging modality of first choice in the search for active inflammation in patients with arthritis. OBJECTIVES: Value of ultrasonography, examination techniques, explanation of findings and differential diagnoses in arthrosonography of the hand. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Review of the literature, description of the examination procedure, discussion of recent publications, guidelines and recommendations. RESULTS: Ultrasonography is a sensitive and specific method that is easy to learn. Ultrasonography and radiography are complementary and should be interpreted together. A good ultrasound generally makes the more expensive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) unnecessary. Findings in rheumatoid arthritis and its differential diagnoses should be interpreted in a clinical context taking into consideration the number and quantity and lack of other findings. CONCLUSIONS: According to recent developments, athrosonography will gain more importance for the diagnosis and differential diagnosis in arthritis patients. An interdisciplinary approach helps in understanding the disease and imaging findings.
BACKGROUND: Ultrasonography continues to gain in importance in musculoskeletal diagnostics and has become the imaging modality of first choice in the search for active inflammation in patients with arthritis. OBJECTIVES: Value of ultrasonography, examination techniques, explanation of findings and differential diagnoses in arthrosonography of the hand. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Review of the literature, description of the examination procedure, discussion of recent publications, guidelines and recommendations. RESULTS: Ultrasonography is a sensitive and specific method that is easy to learn. Ultrasonography and radiography are complementary and should be interpreted together. A good ultrasound generally makes the more expensive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) unnecessary. Findings in rheumatoid arthritis and its differential diagnoses should be interpreted in a clinical context taking into consideration the number and quantity and lack of other findings. CONCLUSIONS: According to recent developments, athrosonography will gain more importance for the diagnosis and differential diagnosis in arthritis patients. An interdisciplinary approach helps in understanding the disease and imaging findings.