The Rheumatologist
COVID-19 News
  • Connect with us:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • Feed
  • Home
  • Conditions
    • Rheumatoid Arthritis
    • SLE (Lupus)
    • Crystal Arthritis
      • Gout Resource Center
    • Spondyloarthritis
    • Osteoarthritis
    • Soft Tissue Pain
    • Scleroderma
    • Vasculitis
    • Systemic Inflammatory Syndromes
    • Guidelines
  • Resource Centers
    • Ankylosing Spondylitis Resource Center
    • Gout Resource Center
    • Psoriatic Arthritis Resource Center
    • Rheumatoid Arthritis Resource Center
    • Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Resource Center
  • Drug Updates
    • Biologics & Biosimilars
    • DMARDs & Immunosuppressives
    • Topical Drugs
    • Analgesics
    • Safety
    • Pharma Co. News
  • Professional Topics
    • Ethics
    • Legal
    • Legislation & Advocacy
    • Career Development
      • Certification
      • Education & Training
    • Awards
    • Profiles
    • President’s Perspective
    • Rheuminations
    • Interprofessional Perspective
  • Practice Management
    • Billing/Coding
    • Quality Assurance/Improvement
    • Workforce
    • Facility
    • Patient Perspective
    • Electronic Health Records
    • Apps
    • Information Technology
    • From the College
    • Multimedia
      • Audio
      • Video
  • Resources
    • Issue Archives
    • ACR Convergence
      • Systemic Lupus Erythematosus Resource Center
      • Rheumatoid Arthritis Resource Center
      • Gout Resource Center
      • Abstracts
      • Meeting Reports
      • ACR Convergence Home
    • American College of Rheumatology
    • ACR ExamRheum
    • Research Reviews
    • ACR Journals
      • Arthritis & Rheumatology
      • Arthritis Care & Research
      • ACR Open Rheumatology
    • Rheumatology Image Library
    • Treatment Guidelines
    • Rheumatology Research Foundation
    • Events
  • About Us
    • Mission/Vision
    • Meet the Authors
    • Meet the Editors
    • Contribute to The Rheumatologist
    • Subscription
    • Contact
  • Advertise
  • Search
You are here: Home / Articles / Benefits, Challenges of Musculoskeletal Ultrasound in Rheumatology

Benefits, Challenges of Musculoskeletal Ultrasound in Rheumatology

May 1, 2014 • By Katarzyna Gilek-Seibert, MD

  • Tweet
  • Email
Print-Friendly Version / Save PDF

You Might Also Like
  • Is Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Right for Your Rheumatology Practice?
  • From the Expert: Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Training Benefits Rheumatology Practices & Patients
  • Is Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Right for Your Rheumatology Practice?
Explore This Issue
May 2014
Also By This Author
  • Work, Life Concerns to Consider Before Completing Medical Fellowship
Sagittal View of the Right Knee
click for large version
Figure 2: Sagittal View of the Right Knee

I suggest that, in patient-oriented medicine, patients’ perceptions of MSUS results may promote its expanded use. The images are confusing at first, but with minimal on-the-spot education, the scans can help patients visualize and understand key clinical concepts of their disease process, such as abnormal joint effusion or enlargement (see Figure 2).

ad goes here:advert-1
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO CONTINUE

Some rheumatologists are critical of ultrasound’s use and doubt the tool will gain broader future acceptance. There are indeed valid concerns with regard to insurer payment, lack of support for training and inter-reader scanning reliability.2

The appropriateness of allocating time for US scanning during fellowship training has been questioned. Arguably, the additional minutes could be put to more beneficial use developing more detailed chart review, better joint examination or other visit-related, patient-oriented activities. Presently, the best response to these concerns is unknown, and only time will tell how rheumatologists adapt to the new practice environment.

ad goes here:advert-2
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO CONTINUE

Why Ultrasound Is Important

On the other hand, researchers have accumulated evidence of improved detection of synovitis using US while assessing inflamed joints of patient with rheumatoid arthritis and ensuring greater precision when injecting selected joints.4,5

My own experience with ultrasound has allowed me to detect synovial fluid with certainty, better direct the injection needle, accurately diagnose shoulder pathology on the spot and immediately share what I saw with the patient.

MSUS is a great tool for both the practitioner and the patient. It has a great future in our specialty.

ad goes here:advert-3
ADVERTISEMENT
SCROLL TO CONTINUE

Katarzyna Gilek-Seibert, MD, is a second-year rheumatology fellow at UTSW Medical Center in Dallas.

References

  1. Nelson EC, Larson CO, Davies AR, et al. The patient comment card: A system to gather customer feedback. QRB Qual Rev Bull. 1991;Sep;17(9):278–286.
  2. Samules J, Abramson SB, Kealey GS. The use of musculoskeletal ultrasound by rheumatologists in the United States. Bull NYU Hosp Jt Dis. 2010;68(4):292–298.
  3. Whorton Marketing and Research. 2010 musculoskeletal ultrasound research: Training directors survey (Nov. 23–Dec. 10, 2010). Survey: American College of Rheumatology MSUS Certification Task Force; 2010.
  4. Szkudlarek M. Interobserver agreement in ultrasonography of the finger and toe joints in rheumatoid arthritis. Arthritis Rheum. 2003 Apr;48(4):955–962.
  5. Lawson A, Kelsberg G, Safranek S. Clinical inquiry: Does ultrasound guidance improve outcomes for steroid joint injections? J Fam Pract. 2013 Dec;62(12):763a–763c.

Pages: 1 2 3 | Single Page

Filed Under: Conditions, Practice Management, Quality Assurance/Improvement, Rheumatoid Arthritis Tagged With: diagnose, Disease, imaging, joint imaging, Musculoskeletal Ultrasound, patient care, Practice Management, Rheumatoid arthritis, rheumatologist, rheumatology, Technology, UltrasoundIssue: May 2014

You Might Also Like:
  • Is Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Right for Your Rheumatology Practice?
  • From the Expert: Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Training Benefits Rheumatology Practices & Patients
  • Is Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Right for Your Rheumatology Practice?
  • Introducing RhMSUS—Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Certification in Rheumatology

Rheumatology Research Foundation

The Foundation is the largest private funding source for rheumatology research and training in the U.S.

Learn more »

American College of Rheumatology

Visit the official website for the American College of Rheumatology.

Visit the ACR »

Simple Tasks

Learn more about the ACR’s public awareness campaign and how you can get involved. Help increase visibility of rheumatic diseases and decrease the number of people left untreated.

Visit the Simple Tasks site »

The Rheumatologist newsmagazine reports on issues and trends in the management and treatment of rheumatic diseases. The Rheumatologist reaches 11,500 rheumatologists, internists, orthopedic surgeons, nurse practitioners, physician assistants, nurses, and other healthcare professionals who practice, research, or teach in the field of rheumatology.

About Us / Contact Us / Advertise / Privacy Policy / Terms of Use

  • Connect with us:
  • Facebook
  • Twitter
  • LinkedIn
  • YouTube
  • Feed

Copyright © 2006–2021 American College of Rheumatology. All rights reserved.

ISSN 1931-3268 (print)
ISSN 1931-3209 (online)

loading Cancel
Post was not sent - check your email addresses!
Email check failed, please try again
Sorry, your blog cannot share posts by email.
This site uses cookies: Find out more.