How is the ultrasound in rheumatology used, implemented, and applied in Latin American centers? Results from a multicenter study

• Published in: Clinical rheumatology Vol. 35; no. 12; pp. 2893 - 2900
• Main Authors: Gutierrez, Marwin, Hernandez-Diaz, Cristina, Ventura-Rios, Lucio, Saldarriaga-Rivera, Lina María, Ruta, Santiago, Alva, Magaly, -Trujillo, Claudia Mora, Pérez, Wilkerson, Terrazas, Henry, del Carmen Arape Toyo, Rodolfo, Quintero, Maritza, Solano, Carla, Santiago, Oscar Sedano, Sotomayor, Janet Grisel Huamán, Cefferino, Cesar, Py, Guillermo E, Audisio, Marcelo J, Spindler, Walter Javier, Berman, Horacio, Airoldi, Carla, Wong, Rómulo, del Castillo Araujo, Ana Laura Álvarez, Díaz, Mario E, Villaquiran, Carmen Cerón, Mantilla, Rubén Darío, Mendonça, José Alexandre, da Silveira, Inês Guimarães, do Prado, Aline Defaveri, Bisi, Melissa Cláudia, Rosario, Violeta, Medrano-Sánchez, Jeannette, Muñoz-Louis, Roberto, Lozada-Navarro, Ana Cecilia, Bernal, Araceli, Lozano, Maribel, Pineda, Carlos
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London Springer London 01-12-2016; Springer Nature B.V
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Female; Humans; Latin America; Male; Medicine; Medicine & Public Health; Middle Aged; Original Article; Referral and Consultation; Retrospective Studies; Rheumatic Diseases - diagnostic imaging; Rheumatology; Rheumatology - methods; Ultrasonography - utilization; Young Adult; Applications; Ultrasound; Rheumatology
• ISSN: 0770-3198; 1434-9949
• DOI: 10.1007/s10067-016-3382-y

This study aimed to perform an overview of how ultrasound (US) is being used, implemented, and applied in rheumatologic centers in Latin America (LA). A retrospective, multicenter 1-year experience study was undertaken. Eighteen centers from eight countries were involved. The following information were collected: demographic data, indication to perform an US examination, physician that required the examination, and the anatomical region required for the examination. A total of 7167 patients underwent an US examination. The request for US examinations came most frequently from their own institution (5981 (83.45 %)) than from external referral (1186 (16.55 %)). The services that more frequently requested an US examination were rheumatology 5154 (71.91 %), followed by orthopedic 1016 (14.18 %), and rehabilitation 375 (5.23 %). The most frequently scanned area was the shoulder in 1908 cases (26.62 %), followed by hand 1754 (24.47 %), knee 1518 (21.18 %), ankle 574 (8.01 %), and wrist 394 (5.50 %). Osteoarthritis was the most common disease assessed (2279 patients (31.8 %)), followed by rheumatoid arthritis (2125 patients (29.65 %)), psoriatic arthritis (869 patients (12.1 %)), painful shoulder syndrome (545 (7.6 %)), connective tissue disorders (systemic sclerosis 339 (4.7 %), polymyositis/dermatomyositis 107 (1.4 %), Sjögren’s syndrome 60 (0.8 %), and systemic lupus erythematosus 57 (0.8 %)). US evaluation was more frequently requested for diagnostic purposes (3981 (55.5 %)) compared to follow-up studies (2649 (36.9 %)), research protocols (339 (4.73 %)), and invasive guided procedures (198 (2.76 %)). US registered increasing applications in rheumatology and highlighted its positive impact in daily clinical practice. US increases the accuracy of the musculoskeletal clinical examination, influence the diagnosis, and the disease management.