Comparative Study between Ultrasound and Magnetic Resonance Imaging for Inflammatory Peripheral Joints Pathology

Abstract Background Musculoskeletal ultrasound (US) and magnetic resonance imaging (MR1) are two new imaging methods that play a significant role in the diagnosis, therapy selection, and disease monitoring of inflammatory disorders of the joints. Aim To compare the ultrasound & MRI findings in inflammatory pathology of peripheral joints. Methods The study included patients who were referred with clinically suspected peripheral joints inflammatory pathology for MRI evaluation. All the patients had been subjected to MRI followed by Ultrasound assessment and the results had been compared. Results This research was conducted on 22 cases with clinically suspected peripheral joints pathology. There was a significant excellent agreement among US & MRI in detection of hands & feet muscles tenosynovitis, marginal osteophytes, bony calcaneal spur, planter fasciitis (kappa = 1.00, p < 0.00l). There was a significant good agreement among US & MRI in detection of joint effusion (kappa = 0.792, p < 0.00l). There were two cases that positive for talar head marrow contusion in MRI who cannot he detected by US with no agreement between US & MRI in detection of talar head marrow contusion. Conclusion Both ultrasound & MRI findings showed an excellent agreement and high accuracy in detection of non-traumatic pathology of peripheral joints.