Sonographic Assessment of Healthy Peripheral Joints Evaluation According to Demographic Parameters

Author(s)

Machado, Flavia S. ^[1] ; Natour, Jamil ^[1] ; Takahashi, Rogerio D. ^[2] ; de Buosi, Ana Leticia P. ^[1] ; Furtado, Rita N. V. ^[1]

Affiliation

^[1] Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Div Rheumatol, Escola Paulista Med, BR-04023900 Sao Paulo - Brazil

^[2] Univ Fed Sao Paulo, Dept Radiol, Escola Paulista Med, BR-04023900 Sao Paulo - Brazil

• Document type: Journal article
• Source: JOURNAL OF ULTRASOUND IN MEDICINE; v. 33, n. 12, p. 2087-2098, DEC 2014.
• Web of Science Citations: 6

Abstract

Objectives-To describe quantitative and semiquantitative sonographic joint measurements in healthy adults and compare them with demographic parameters. Methods-A cross-sectional study was conducted. Bilateral sonographic measurements of small, medium, and large joints were performed in 130 healthy volunteers, stratified into Sage groups (A, 18-29; B, 30-39; C, 40-49; D, 50-59; and E, 60-80 years). Quantitative synovial hypertrophy measurements and semiquantitative synovial hypertrophy, power Doppler, bone erosion (score 0-3), and articular cartilage (score 0-4) measurements were performed by a blinded radiologist using a 6-18-MHz linear array transducer. The sonographic measurements were correlated with demographic parameters. The significant P value was set at .05. Results-A total of 6500 joint recesses were studied; the mean age +/- SD of the participants was 44.8 +/- 14.6 years, and 76.9% were women. The highest quantitative synovial hypertrophy values were found in the hip (6.4 mm) and talonavicular joint (2.6 mm). The joint recesses with a greater frequency of hypothetical pathologic semiquantitative scores were second metatarsophalangeal (78.8%) and first metatarsophalangeal (69.3%) for synovial hypertrophy, radiocarpal (17.7%) and first metatarsophalangeal (15.8%) for power Doppler, and posterior glenohumeral (23.1%) and ulnocarpal (4.2%) for bone erosion. The highest quantitative synovial hypertrophy values and the lowest semiquantitative synovial hypertrophy, `power Doppler, bone erosion, and articular cartilage scores were observed in age group E (P < .046). There were positive correlations between the sonographic measurements and height, age, weight, and body mass index in 30.4%, 34.8%, 43.5%, and 47.8%, respectively, of all the joint recesses studied. Conclusions-Sonographic changes in healthy peripheral joints were observed predominantly in the oldest group. (AU)

• FAPESP's process: 09/54559-3 - Articular sonography: findings in normal subjets compared with Rheumatoid Arthritis pacients
• Grantee: Jamil Natour
• Support Opportunities: Regular Research Grants