J Korean Soc Med Ultrasound.  1998 Dec;17(4):375-379.

Sonographic Evaluation Rheumatoid Arthritis of the Knee

• Kang HS
• Keun RY

Abstract

PURPOSE: To evaluate the usefullness of ultrasonography of the rhuematoid arthritis of the knee. MATERIALS & METHODS: Authors analysed 14 asymptomatic subjects 15 to 71 years of age (average:38 age) and 16 patients with rheumatoid arthritis ranging from 21 to 70 years of age (average age:48 age) that were examined from March 1995 to Feburary 1997 and were retrospectively reviewed for the sonographc feature in terms of the synovial fluid, measurement for synovial and cartilage thickness. Ultrasound studies were correlated with the clinical and arthroscopic findings.
RESULTS
Generally, good correlation was found between the clinical assessment of the suprapatella effusion and the demonstration by ultrasound. The normal fluid in the suprapatella bursa was not see, but in rheumatoid arthritis, it ranges from 1.3mm to 21.1mm (average:7.6mm). The normal synovial thickness can not be neasured. But in rheumatoid arthritis, ranges from 0.4mm to 5.6mm (average:2.3mm). Synovial thickening was not correlated as well with clinical examination as did those with effusion. Normal weight bearing cartilage ranges from 1.6mm to 1.8mm. Measurement of cartilage thickness greater than 2.5mm and lesser than 0.7mm was generally considered pathological. Marginal erosions are identified as crater like defects in the bony contours along the edges of the articular cartilage. Pannus is recognized as hypoechoic soft tissue filling these cortical defects, it seems a pseudotumor appearance.
CONCLUSION
We attempted to show that ultrasonography can be useful in evaluating rheumatoid arthritis of the knee. And we found that it is very mportant to demonstrate pathological change of synovium by ultrasound in the diagnosis of rheumatolid arthritis.

MeSH Terms

Arthritis
Arthritis, Rheumatoid*
Cartilage
Cartilage, Articular
Diagnosis
Humans
Knee*
Retrospective Studies
Synovial Fluid
Synovial Membrane
Ultrasonography*
Weight-Bearing