Ultrasound in inflammatory disease

Recent improvements in high frequency transducers and digital imaging proce ssing have dramatically improved the quality of ultrasound images of superf icial structures. This article describes the current role of ultrasound in the management of inflammatory disease with respect to diagnosis, prognosti cation, and intervention. It discusses the value of ultrasound in detection of synovitis, bony erosions, enthesopathy and tendon disease as well as de scribing the sonographic features of specific inflammatory disease entities . It also describes potential roles of color and power Doppler imaging.