Ultrasound appearance of synovium within the small joints of the hands in rheumatoid arthritis

Objective To investigate the high-frequency ultrasound(HFUS)in rheumatoid arthritis(RA)of small joints of hands in patients with the diagnosis of disease.Methods High-resolution ultrasound was used to scan bilateral metacarpophalangeal joints(MCP)and proximal interphalangeal joints(PIP)in 23 patients with rheumatoid arthritis(RA group).Ultrasound findings included synovial thickness,vascularity and association changes of soft tissue around joints.All of these findings were compared with 20 healthy volunteers(control group).Results Joint effusion was found in 303 joints.Synovial hypertrophy was found in 264 joints,in which 31 joints were shown vascularity by color Doppler flow image(CDFI).This number was increased to 76 joints by using color Doppler energy image(CDE).ConclusionHigh-frequency ultrasound can accurately show effusion of the hands joints,synovial proliferation and angiogenesis,which provide evidence for diagnosis and treatment.