Role of ultrasound in the assessment of juvenile idiopathic arthritis.

US has demonstrated higher sensitivity in detecting synovitis, tenosynovitis and enthesitis than clinical examination in JIA. US has also allowed earlier assessment of cartilage and bone abnormalities than conventional radiology. Although it seems that US detects a high frequency of subclinical synovitis in JIA patients with clinically inactive disease, further studies are needed to clarify those findings. In addition, assessment of structural damage changes in growing children should be taken with caution until more information about normal US articular anatomy in healthy children is available.