Perspective chapter: Musculoskeletal ultrasound in inflammatory joint diseases

Abstract

Musculoskeletal ultrasound is a very important and useful tool in daily activity as a rheumatologist. It is also called “the stethoscope of rheumatologists.” It enables the clinician to “see” into and around the joint, as ultrasound can penetrate any tissue except for bone. Even though ultrasound cannot penetrate bone, they are completely reflected by bony surfaces, which allows for the appreciation of bone integrity and the visualization of erosions. Another important aspect of using ultrasound for the evaluation of inflammatory joint diseases is the fact that it can depict inflammation within the musculoskeletal system (by depicting new vessel formation, using the Doppler effect), thus being able to contribute to the early and, even, very early diagnosis of inflammatory joint diseases and, conversely, to the early initiation of treatment that enables the prevention of irreversible disability.