© Springer International Publishing Switzerland 2016 419
Y. El Miedany (ed.), Patient Reported Outcome Measures in Rheumatic Diseases,
DOI 10.1007/978-3-319-32851-5_18
Chapter 18
PROMs and Musculoskeletal Ultrasonography
Jacqueline Uson and Yasser El Miedany
Introduction
Over the past decade, musculoskeletal ultrasound’s (MSUS) role for the assessment
and management of musculoskeletal disorders has grown rapidly. In contrast to con-
ventional radiography, MSUS is able to provide multi-planner images of bone, car-
tilage, synovial membrane, fl uid collection, muscles, ligament, and nerves, as well
as vasculature. Furthermore, owing to its good resolution, it can depict even minute
bone surface abnormalities. Thus destructive and/or hypertrophic or reparative
changes on the bone surface could be seen before they appear on plain X-rays or
even magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Newer ultrasound (US) techniques and
several research studies have demonstrated validity, reliability, and responsiveness
of the MSUS in several rheumatic diseases [ 1 , 2 ]. This gave MSUS its description
of being the physician’s extended fi nger and booked its place as the cornerstone in
today’s standard rheumatology practice for the articular as well as periarticular
imaging. However, some apprehensions were raised regarding its reproducibility,
and interpretations made. This may be attributed to the fact that MSUS is an
operator- dependent imaging modality which, in turn, would refl ect on the intrinsic
J. Uson , M.D. (*)
Department of Rheumatology , Hospital Universitario de Móstoles , Madrid , Spain
e-mail: [email protected]
Y. El Miedany , M.D., F.R.C.P. (UK)
Honorary Senior Clinical Lecturer, King’s College London , London , UK
Professor of Rheumatology and Rehabilitation, Ain Shams University , Cairo , Egypt
Department of Rheumatology , Darent Valley Hospital , Gravesend , Kent , UK
e-mail: [email protected]