Ultrasonography of the metacarpophalangeal joints in healthy subjects using an 18 MHz transducer.
Aim: To evaluate the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints (MCP2 and 5) in healthy subjects by ultrasonography (US) using a high frequency transducer (18 MHz) and to verify the interobserver agreement.Material and Methods: We enrolled 50 healthy volunteers (37 women, age between 30-58 years, mean age 41....
| Published in: | Medical Ultrasonography Vol. 17; no. 2; pp. 185 - 192 |
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| Main Authors: | , , , , , , |
| Format: | Journal Article |
| Published: |
Romanian Society of Ultrasonography in Medicine & Biology
Jun2015
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| Online Access: | View this record in EBSCOhost |
| fields | @attributes: recordID: 1 pdfLink: plink: https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db=ccm&AN=109745414&site=ehost-live header: @attributes: shortDbName: ccm uiTerm: 109745414 longDbName: CINAHL Complete uiTag: AN controlInfo: bkinfo: dissinfo: jinfo: jid: 18444172 AX1S jtl: Medical Ultrasonography issn: 18444172 maglogo: N pubinfo: dt: Jun2015 vid: 17 iid: 2 pid: 57537 pub: Romanian Society of Ultrasonography in Medicine & Biology artinfo: ui: 109745414 NLM26052569 2013041985 10.11152/mu.2013.2066.172.mcph NLM26052569 109745414 ppf: 185 ppct: 7 formats: fmt: @attributes: type: P tig: atl: Ultrasonography of the metacarpophalangeal joints in healthy subjects using an 18 MHz transducer. aug: au: Fodor, Daniela Felea, Ioana Popescu, Daniela Motei, Adelina Ene, Paula Serban, Oana Micu, Mihaela sug: ab: Aim: To evaluate the metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints (MCP2 and 5) in healthy subjects by ultrasonography (US) using a high frequency transducer (18 MHz) and to verify the interobserver agreement.Material and Methods: We enrolled 50 healthy volunteers (37 women, age between 30-58 years, mean age 41.7 years, divided into 3 groups according to age: 30-39, 40-49, and 50-58 years). The subjects were successively evaluated by 4 rheumatologists: 2 experienced (team A) and 2 beginners (team B) in US. Seven dorsal and palmar longitudinal scanning positions and a supplementary scan for MCP cartilage were performed. The bone surface (erosions, osteophytes), the intra-articular content (synovial thickening and vascularization, 4 grade scale), and the aspect of the metacarpal head cartilage were analyzed. The anterior palmar recess was measured. The time for examination was recorded.Results: Erosions were detected in 7% of joints by team A and 2% by team B (p<0.05, kappa agreement 0.567) in subjects over 40 years. The agreement by team A in the detection of the erosions was very good (kappa value 0.83). A moderate positive correlation was obtained between the presence of erosions and age (r= 0.401, p=0.004). Osteophytes were identified only on the dorsal scan in subjects over 50 years (in 3.5% of joints team A, 1.5% team B, p>0.05, kappa value 0.421). No grade 1 synovitis was observed by team A but 4 joints with grade 1 synovitis were identified by team B (p<0.05) from the dorsal scan. The dimensions of the palmar recess had large distribution (MCP 2 between 0.55-1.3 mm; MCP 5 between 0.6-1.2 mm). No statistical significant differences were obtained when comparing the dimensions of the two hands, the values obtained in age-groups (all p>0.05). No statistical significant correlations were obtained between the dimensions of palmar recess and the body mass index or dominant hand (all p>0.05). No pathological findings were found in the examination of the metacarpal head cartilage. Power Doppler investigation found the presence of grade 1 signal in 2.5% joints by team A and 1.5% by team B (p>0.05) only in the dorsal scans. The mean time for examination was 7.8+/-1.74 min in team A and 13.78+/-2.96 min in team B (p<0.05).Conclusions: In healthy subjects pathological findings are occasionally encountered, especially erosions and osteophytes. Using an 18 MHz transducer the aspect of grade 1 synovitis was not encountered in healthy non-inflammatory MCP joints. There is a permanent need for standardized training and examination in musculoskeletal US. pubtype: Academic Journal doctype: Journal Article ougenre: Article language: English refInfo: holdings: @attributes: islocal: N |
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