Applications and advances of musculoskeletal ultrasound in rheumatic diseases / 中国医师进修杂志

ABSTRACT

Rheumatic diseases often involve the musculoskeletal system, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA), spondyloarthritis (SpA), gouty arthritis, systemic sclerosis (SSc) and polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR), which are difficult to cure and have a high disability rate, thus seriously affect patients′work and life. A simple, convenient and effective means is needed for disease′s diagnosis and activity monitoring in clinic. Musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS) scans the superficial joints and muscles, and can detect the inflammation in disease′s early stage. It has the advantages of safety, high sensitivity and repeatability, and is widely applied in rheumatic diseases.