Ultrasonographic findings in gouty arthritis / 中华超声影像学杂志

ObjectiveTo explore the sonographic features of gouty arthritis.MethodsThe sonographic features of gouty arthritis were summarized by retrospectively studying the sonogram of 19 joints of 5 patients.ResultsFive the first metatarsophalangeal joints,8 knees,2 ankles,2 elbows and 2 wrists were investigated.Out of 19 joints,17(89.4％) had double contour signs,a hyperechoic and irregular band over the superficial margin of the articular cartilage.Joint effusions were seen in 13 of 19 joints (68.4％).Multiple hyperreflective foci could be seen in the joint fluid,which were obvious by shaking the probe.In 19 joints,11 (57.9 ％) had proliferation of the synovium identified,and proliferative synovium were revealed as hyperperfusion or hypoperfusion by color Doppler ultrasound.In one knee,the synovium proliferated obviously with involved area about 5 cm × 2 cm,and hyperechoic aggregates with acoustic shadow could be seen in it.Articular cartilage became irregularly thin and the hyperechoic outline of subchondral bone cortex became rough or even broke in 6 of 19 joint (31.6％).H omogeneous,hyperechoic aggregates with or without acoustic shadow in the soft tissue around the joint were seen in four joints (21.1 ％).Three in these 4 joints exited bone cortex erosions adjacent to aggregates.ConclusionsGouty arthritis has some specific sonographic features,ultrasound maybe usefully discover this disease in early period.

Color Doppler ultrasonographic findings in active ankylosing sacroiliitis / 中华超声影像学杂志

Objective To evaluate the color Doppler ultrasonographic findings of active ankylosing sacroiliitis.Methods Thirty three patients (66 sacroiliac joints in total) with active ankylosing sacroiliitis identified by MRI and twenty eight healthy volunteers (56 sacroiliac joints) underwent color Doppler ultrasound examinations of sacroiliac joints.Degree of blood flow within and around the sacroiliac joints was evaluated by semi-quantitative scale (0 - 4 grade).For arteries, resistive index was also measured.Statistical analyses were performed to compare blood flow demonstration rate, blood flow signal scale distribution,degree of blow flow and RI value between the two groups.Results Higher blood flow demonstration rate was found in patients with active ankylosing sacroiliitis(60/66,90.1%) than control group (25/56,44.6%)( P = 0.000).The scale distribution and degree of blow flow between these two groups were statistically different (all P = 0.000) ,with mainly 2～3 grade for the patients and 0～1 grade for the control.Mean value of RI in the patients was 0.57 ± 0.07, which was lower than the control (0.66 ± 0.04, P = 0.000).Conclusions Patients with active ankylosing sacroiliitis tend to have higher degree of blood flow in sacroiliac joints and lower RI values of artery.Color Doppler ultrasound may help to evaluate the activity of ankylosing sacroiliitis.