Clinical Applications of Musculoskeletal Ultrasound 2013

Many musculoskeletal disorders, particularly inflammatory arthritides, can be difficult to diagnose and manage without imaging. CT scans are insensitive, expose patients to radiation and are costly. MRIs are also costly, and neither CTs nor MRIs provide real-time information that can be used in a timely manner for the day-to-day care of rheumatology patients. Ultrasound is a powerful tool in the evaluation and management of musculoskeletal disorders. Compared to other imaging modalities, ultrasound has several inherent advantages. It is readily accessible, provides real-time information for the timely care of patients, is relatively inexpensive, involves no ionizing radiation, and has high patient tolerability.