In last decades, musculoskeletal ultrasound (US) has gained an important role in the diagnosis, follow-up and management of patients with rheumatic diseases. US can detect signs of 'active' inflammation and/or structural damage in the articular and periarticular structures of patients with different rheumatic disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), spondyloarthritis (SpA), crystal arthropathies and connective tissue diseases (CTDs). US plays a potential role in the differential diagnosis between the different types of arthritis (e.g., SpA vs RA) and it is extremely helpful for the identification of crystal deposits, thus facilitating the diagnosis of calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease or gout.
Recent studies have also highlighted the potential value of US for the detection of muscle involvement in patients with rheumatic conditions, thus facilitating the early identification of those with, or 'at-risk' of, sarcopenia. US has shown a promising value for the assessment of extra-articular targets in CTDs, such as the salivary glands in patients with Sjögren's syndrome, and the skin and lungs in systemic sclerosis (SSc). In large vessel vasculitides, the key diagnostic role of US is widely recognized.
This Research Topic aims to provide a collection of papers which highlight the recent advances and potential applications of musculoskeletal US in the 'disease continuum' (i.e., from early diagnosis, as well as the consideration of differential diagnosis, to disease monitoring and defining remission) of the most relevant rheumatic conditions. This topic should also encompass the possible uses and applications of musculoskeletal US in the assessment of extra-articular involvement in patients with rheumatic diseases.
This collection will address two main topics:
1. The role of musculoskeletal US in the diagnosis (including differential diagnosis), disease monitoring and management of patients with rheumatic conditions (e.g., RA, SpA, CTDs, crystal arthropathies, osteoarthritis).
2. The value of musculoskeletal US in the assessment of extra-articular involvement in patients with rheumatic disorders, such as the muscle in those with (or ‘at-risk’ of) sarcopenia, the salivary glands in patients with Sjögren's syndrome, the skin or lungs in patients with SSc, and vascular US for vasculitis.
In last decades, musculoskeletal ultrasound (US) has gained an important role in the diagnosis, follow-up and management of patients with rheumatic diseases. US can detect signs of 'active' inflammation and/or structural damage in the articular and periarticular structures of patients with different rheumatic disorders, such as rheumatoid arthritis (RA), spondyloarthritis (SpA), crystal arthropathies and connective tissue diseases (CTDs). US plays a potential role in the differential diagnosis between the different types of arthritis (e.g., SpA vs RA) and it is extremely helpful for the identification of crystal deposits, thus facilitating the diagnosis of calcium pyrophosphate deposition disease or gout.
Recent studies have also highlighted the potential value of US for the detection of muscle involvement in patients with rheumatic conditions, thus facilitating the early identification of those with, or 'at-risk' of, sarcopenia. US has shown a promising value for the assessment of extra-articular targets in CTDs, such as the salivary glands in patients with Sjögren's syndrome, and the skin and lungs in systemic sclerosis (SSc). In large vessel vasculitides, the key diagnostic role of US is widely recognized.
This Research Topic aims to provide a collection of papers which highlight the recent advances and potential applications of musculoskeletal US in the 'disease continuum' (i.e., from early diagnosis, as well as the consideration of differential diagnosis, to disease monitoring and defining remission) of the most relevant rheumatic conditions. This topic should also encompass the possible uses and applications of musculoskeletal US in the assessment of extra-articular involvement in patients with rheumatic diseases.
This collection will address two main topics:
1. The role of musculoskeletal US in the diagnosis (including differential diagnosis), disease monitoring and management of patients with rheumatic conditions (e.g., RA, SpA, CTDs, crystal arthropathies, osteoarthritis).
2. The value of musculoskeletal US in the assessment of extra-articular involvement in patients with rheumatic disorders, such as the muscle in those with (or ‘at-risk’ of) sarcopenia, the salivary glands in patients with Sjögren's syndrome, the skin or lungs in patients with SSc, and vascular US for vasculitis.