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

ABSTRACT

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.