Sonographic analysis of the ankle in patients with psoriatic arthritis

• Published in: Scandinavian journal of rheumatology Vol. 29; no. 1; pp. 52 - 55
• Main Author: E Galluzzo, D.M Lischi, E Taglione, F Lombardini, G Pasero, G Perri, L Riente
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Colchester Informa UK Ltd 2000; Taylor & Francis
• Subjects: Achilles Tendon - diagnostic imaging; Achilles Tendon - pathology; Adult; Aged; Ankle Joint - diagnostic imaging; Ankle Joint - pathology; Arthritis, Psoriatic - diagnostic imaging; Arthritis, Psoriatic - pathology; Biological and medical sciences; Bursitis - diagnostic imaging; Bursitis - pathology; Female; Humans; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Joints; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Radiography; Tenosynovitis - diagnostic imaging; Tenosynovitis - pathology; Ultrasonic investigative techniques; Ultrasonography; Sonography; Juxtaarticular disease; Human; Skin disease; Radiodiagnosis; Psoriasis; Ultrasound imaging; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Lower limb; Exploration; Inflammatory joint disease; Fasciitis; Foot; Psoriatic arthritis; Spondylarthropathy; Ankle; Foot sole; Radiography; Disease of the foot; Tenosynovitis
• ISSN: 0300-9742; 1502-7732
• DOI: 10.1080/030097400750001806

Foot involvement is very frequent in patients affected by psoriatic arthritis (PsA). However, evaluation of the painful foot can be problematic, because it is often difficult to distinguish between arthritis, tenosynovitis, and enthesopathy. Plain radiographs can show bone erosion or other features of joint involvement, but give little information about the soft tissues. We therefore studied foot involvement in 31 PsA patients using high resolution sonography, and compared the results with the findings on x-ray and clinical examination. Ultrasound revealed pathological findings in a large proportion of the patients, most of whom exhibited no clinical (pain or swelling) or radiological signs of foot involvement at the time of the study. Our data suggest that involvement of the tendons and entheses may be more frequent in PsA patients than has thus far been supposed, even in cases of not particularly aggressive disease, and that clinical evaluation tends to underestimate these manifestations.