Clin Ultrasound.
2025 Nov;10(2):82-88. 10.18525/cu.2025.10.2.82.
Musculoskeletal Ultrasound for Arthritis: Distinguishing Rheumatoid Arthritis, Osteoarthritis, and Gout
- Affiliations
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- 1Division of Rheumatology, Department of Internal Medicine, Daegu Catholic University Medical Center, Daegu Catholic University School of Medicine, Daegu, Korea
- KMID: 2574613
- DOI: http://doi.org/10.18525/cu.2025.10.2.82
Abstract
- Rheumatoid arthritis, osteoarthritis, and gout present with similar clinical symptoms but differ substantially in pathophysiology and therapeutic strategies, making accurate differential diagnosis essential. Musculoskeletal ultrasound is a non-invasive, real-time imaging modality that plays an important role in the evaluation of arthritis. This review summarizes the diagnostic value, characteristic ultrasonographic findings, and clinical applications of musculoskeletal ultrasound in arthritic conditions. In rheumatoid arthritis, synovial hypertrophy, increased power Doppler signal, and early bone erosions were detected with high sensitivity. In osteoarthritis, structural alterations such as osteophytes, cartilage damage, and meniscal protrusion were identified. In gout, hallmark features including the double contour sign, tophus formation, and crystal deposition were clearly visualized, and ultrasound was effective in monitoring therapeutic response. Overall, musculoskeletal ultrasound is a highly useful imaging technique for the early diagnosis, differential assessment, disease activity evaluation, and treatment monitoring of arthritis.
