ABSTRACT
In recent years a dynamic development of ultrasound technology has been observed. Consequently, ultrasound is increasingly being utilized in rheumatology. With the introduction of high-frequency (up to 18 MHz) linear probes, sensitive Doppler techniques, harmonic imaging options and cross beams, ultrasound is used in the initial diagnosis of rheumatic diseases, monitoring of the effectiveness of treatment and confirmation of remission. Ultrasound cannot identify specific rheumatic diseases, but it does allow for an evaluation of the type of pathology, including an assessment of disease progression and its location. These irregularities include: synovial pathologies, effusion, tendon, cartilage and bone lesions, tendon and ligament pathology at the site of their insertion (enthesopathies). This publication discusses the wide spectrum of changes in peripheral joints and entheses observed on ultrasound. Special consideration is given to the ultrasound, which besides an MRI is a leading diagnostic tool in the diagnosis of early stages of the disease and monitoring of disease progression.
ABSTRACT
Radiological imaging plays a fundamental role in the diagnosis and monitoring of rheumatic diseases. The basic method of imaging is a classic X-ray picture, which for many years has been used as a single method for the recognition and evaluation of the effects of disease management. In today's modern day treatment of rheumatic diseases, ultrasonography and magnetic resonance are more commonly performed for early detection of inflammatory changes in the region of soft tissue, subchondral bone and bone marrow. In spite of their usefulness and fundamental role in the diagnosis, X-ray still remains an essential tool in the diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis in children and is complementary to today's methods of imaging diagnostics. In clinical practice, X-ray imaging is still an important examination performed not only to recognize the disorders, but also to provide a differential diagnosis. It helps estimate disease progression and is used to monitor the effects of treatment and the development of possible complications. Differential diagnosis of rheumatic diseases is performed on the basis of localization and type of radiographic changes. The surrounding periarticular soft tissues, bone structures, joint space, with special attention to articular bone surfaces and epiphyses, are analyzed. The aim of this work is to describe characteristic inflammatory changes present on X-ray imaging typical for the most commonly diagnosed rheumatic diseases in children, such as juvenile idiopathic arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus, systemic scleroderma, mixed connective tissue disease, juvenile dermatomyositis, juvenile spondyloarthropathy and systemic vascular disease.
ABSTRACT
Sjögren's syndrome is an autoimmune exocrinopathy which manifests itself with dryness of the eyes and the oral cavity. These symptoms comprise a so-called sicca syndrome (xerostomia and xerophthalmia). Two forms of this disease may be distinguished: primary Sjögren's syndrome which affects salivary glands and secondary Sjögren's syndrome with other autoimmune diseases present such as rheumatoid arthritis, systemic lupus erythematosus or systemic scleroderma. The diagnosis is based on the classification criteria established in 2002 by a group of American and European scientists (American-European Consensus Group), which involve the interview and physical examination as well as serological, histopathological and radiological tests. Most of these examinations show some limitations such as invasiveness, expensiveness or limited accessibility. The latest research suggests that ultrasound examination may appear promising in the diagnostics of the main salivary glands: submandibular and parotid glands. It is an accessible and relatively cheap examination with high sensitivity and specificity values which are comparable to those obtained via conventional means used in the diagnostics of this disease, i.e. biopsy of the minor salivary glands, sialography and scintigraphy, as well as superior to those obtained in sialometry and Schirmer's test. Additionally, ultrasonography correlates with the results of magnetic resonance imaging. Therefore, a number of authors claim that US examination should be included in the classification criteria of Sjögren's syndrome. The aim of this article is to present the diagnostic capacity of the US examination in Sjögren's syndrome using the current ultrasound classification systems based on the grey-scale, Doppler and contrast-enhanced examinations. The latest research confirms that the most valuable diagnostic criterion in Sjögren's syndrome is the heterogeneity of the glandular parenchyma. The outcome of the examination greatly depends on the examiner's experience.
