Topic Highlight
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World J Orthop. Nov 18, 2014; 5(5): 574-584
Published online Nov 18, 2014. doi: 10.5312/wjo.v5.i5.574
Power Doppler ultrasonographic assessment of the ankle in patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases
Takeshi Suzuki
Takeshi Suzuki, Division of Rheumatology, Mitsui Memorial Hospital, Tokyo 101-8643, Japan
Author contributions: Suzuki T was involved in the conception of this topic highlight article, the literature review process, the acquisition of ultrasound images and preparing the manuscript.
Correspondence to: Takeshi Suzuki, MD, Division of Rheumatology, Mitsui Memorial Hospital, 1 Kandaizumi-cho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo 101-8643, Japan. suzuki-rheum@mitsuihosp.or.jp
Telephone: +81-3-38629111 Fax: +81-3-56879765
Received: December 28, 2013
Revised: April 7, 2014
Accepted: May 29, 2014
Published online: November 18, 2014
Processing time: 235 Days and 12 Hours
Abstract

Ankle involvement is frequent in patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases, but accurate evaluation by physical examination is often difficult because of the complex anatomical structures of the ankle. Over the last decade, ultrasound (US) has become a practical imaging tool for the assessment of articular and periarticular pathologies, including joint synovitis, tenosynovitis, and enthesitis in rheumatic diseases. Progress in power Doppler (PD) technology has enabled evaluation of the strength of ongoing inflammation. PDUS is very useful for identifying the location and kind of pathologies in rheumatic ankles as well as for distinguishing between inflammatory processes and degenerative changes or between active inflammation and residual damage. The aim of this paper is to illustrate the US assessment of ankle lesions in patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis, spondyloarthritis, and systemic lupus erythematosus, focusing on the utility of PDUS.

Keywords: Ankle; Power Doppler; Ultrasound; Rheumatoid arthritis; Psoriatic arthritis; Spondyloarthritis; Tenosynovitis; Enthesitis

Core tip: Over the last decade, ultrasound (US) has become a practical imaging tool for the assessment of articular and periarticular pathologies in rheumatic diseases. Progress in power Doppler (PD) technology has enabled evaluation of the strength of ongoing inflammation. PDUS is useful not only for identifying the pathologies in rheumatic ankles, but also for distinguishing between inflammatory processes and degenerative changes or between active inflammation and residual damage. The aim of this paper is to illustrate the US assessment of ankle lesions in patients with inflammatory rheumatic diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis and spondyloarthritis, focusing on the utility of PDUS.