Long-term follow-up imaging study comparing clinical examination, ultrasound and radiography in rheumatoid arthritis finger joints

Problemstellung: To compare clinical examination (CE), conventional radiography (CR) and ultrasound (US) in the detection of bone erosions and synovitis in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) finger joints in a long-term follow up study. In addition, to determine whether radiographically occult finger joint erosions – previously detected by US – would present on conventional radiographs seven years later. Methode: After 7 years, follow-up examination of 16 patients with RA (11 female, 5 male) was performed with radiography and US. Patients were examined at baseline and at follow-up visit (mean duration 6.8 years). The met…