[Ultrasound of the hand-clinical indications].

BACKGROUND

Ultrasonography continues to gain in importance in musculoskeletal diagnostics and has become the imaging modality of first choice in the search for active inflammation in patients with arthritis.

OBJECTIVES

Value of ultrasonography, examination techniques, explanation of findings and differential diagnoses in arthrosonography of the hand.

MATERIALS AND

METHODS

Review of the literature, description of the examination procedure, discussion of recent publications, guidelines and recommendations.

RESULTS

Ultrasonography is a sensitive and specific method that is easy to learn. Ultrasonography and radiography are complementary and should be interpreted together. A good ultrasound generally makes the more expensive magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) unnecessary. Findings in rheumatoid arthritis and its differential diagnoses should be interpreted in a clinical context taking into consideration the number and quantity and lack of other findings.

CONCLUSIONS

According to recent developments, athrosonography will gain more importance for the diagnosis and differential diagnosis in arthritis patients. An interdisciplinary approach helps in understanding the disease and imaging findings.