Who Uses It
Rheumatology:
Ultrasound assists the rheumatologist in evaluating and tailoring treatment for a wide variety of rheumatologic disorders. Images of bone surface features and soft tissues such as hyaline cartilage, fibrocartilage, ligament, tendon, joint capsule, bursa, hypertrophic synovium, muscle, nerve, and enthesis can be obtained with ultrasound. Color and Power Doppler provide information about neovascularization and hyperemia. These features of ultrasound help the rheumatologist to diagnose, stage, and follow the progression or remission of a large number of findings and conditions such as bone erosions and spurs; avulsion, stress and occult fractures; synovial hypertrophy, synovitis, tenosynovitis, and bursitis; tendinosis, paratenonitis, tendon tear, calcific tendinosis, and enthesopahty; CCPD, gout, psuedogout, Sjögren’s syndrome, RA and OA; nerve compression syndromes, neuroma, schwannoma, neurofibroma; muscle contusion, tear, atrophy, hernia and myositis ossificans; ligament tears, facititis, cellulitis, edema, and hematoma, to mention a few. In addition, ultrasound-guided injections and aspirations improve accuracy and reduce risk.
