Musculoskeletal ultrasound has emerged as an essential tool in the diagnosis, monitoring and management of rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases. It provides real-time, detailed visualisation of joints, tendons, bursae and soft tissues, making it invaluable for assessing inflammation, structural damage and guiding interventions. Its non-invasive nature and absence of radiation offer significant advantages over traditional imaging modalities. However, the utility of musculoskeletal ultrasound is not without challenges. Key challenges include operator dependency, inadequate image acquisition, misinterpretation of normal anatomical variants, overdiagnosis of inflammatory conditions and failure to detect early disease changes. Additionally, over-reliance on ultrasound findings without considering clinical context and inconsistent documentation may lead to misdiagnoses or inappropriate management. To overcome these pitfalls, strategies such as formal training, adherence to standardised protocols, clinical correlation and balanced use of musculoskeletal ultrasound in disease monitoring are emphasized. By integrating ultrasound findings with clinical and laboratory data, clinicians can maximise the potential of the ultrasound in order to improve patient care.

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Pitfalls in Ultrasound of the Musculoskeletal System in Rheumatic Diseases

  • Eleftherios Pelechas,
  • Panagiota Karagianni,
  • Evripidis Kaltsonoudis

摘要

Musculoskeletal ultrasound has emerged as an essential tool in the diagnosis, monitoring and management of rheumatic and musculoskeletal diseases. It provides real-time, detailed visualisation of joints, tendons, bursae and soft tissues, making it invaluable for assessing inflammation, structural damage and guiding interventions. Its non-invasive nature and absence of radiation offer significant advantages over traditional imaging modalities. However, the utility of musculoskeletal ultrasound is not without challenges. Key challenges include operator dependency, inadequate image acquisition, misinterpretation of normal anatomical variants, overdiagnosis of inflammatory conditions and failure to detect early disease changes. Additionally, over-reliance on ultrasound findings without considering clinical context and inconsistent documentation may lead to misdiagnoses or inappropriate management. To overcome these pitfalls, strategies such as formal training, adherence to standardised protocols, clinical correlation and balanced use of musculoskeletal ultrasound in disease monitoring are emphasized. By integrating ultrasound findings with clinical and laboratory data, clinicians can maximise the potential of the ultrasound in order to improve patient care.