Ultrasonography in the diagnosis and management of psoriatic dactylitis

Objective, To determine the ultrasonographic features of dactylitis in psor iatic arthritis (PsA). Methods. Seventeen patients with PsA presenting with a total of 25 dactylit ic fingers and toes under, went ultrasonographic examination of the digits with a 7.5 or 10 MHz transducer. Results. Flexor tenosynovitis was present in 96% (24/25) of dactylitic digi ts. Articular synovitis was present in 52% (13/25) of dactylitic digits. Su bcutaneous soft tissue enlargement was present in all digits, The presence of articular synovitis in a dactylitic finger on ultrasonography correlated with the presence of joint space narrowing and periostitis on plain radiog raphy. Conclusion, Dactylitis in PsA is due to both flexor tenosynovitis and artic ular synovitis. Dactylitis in PsA has an increased incidence of articular s ynovitis, which was associated with the development of articular damage as assessed by plain radiography.