Intra-articular discontinuity of the bone surface is visible in 2 perpendicular planes OMERACT, Wakefield and coll. J Rheumatol ULTRASOUND DEFINED EROSION IN RA dorsal longitudinal (A) and transverse longitudinal (B) scans A B
Erosion of the 2 MC visible in two perpendicular planes: dorsal longitudinal (A) and transverse longitudinal (B) scans A B METACARPAL HEAD
Erosion of the 2 MC visible in a longitudinal dorsal scan METACARPAL HEAD
Erosion of the 2 MC visible in a longitudinal dorsal scan with inflammatory synovitis and vessels inside the erosion METACARPAL HEAD
Erosion of the 2 MC visible in a longitudinal dorsal scan with inflammatory synovitis and vessels inside the erosion
METACARPAL HEAD Erosion of the 2 MC visible in a longitudinal dorsal scan in B mode (A) and with Doppler (B): inflammatory synovitis and vessels inside the erosion A B
METACARPAL HEAD A B Erosion of the 5 MC visible in two perpendicular planes: dorsal longitudinal (A) and transverse longitudinal (B) scans
Several coalescent erosions of the 2 MC visible in two perpendicular planes: dorsal longitudinal (A) and transverse longitudinal (B) scans METACARPAL HEAD A B
Several coalescent erosions of the 3 MC visible in two perpendicular planes: dorsal longitudinal (A) and transverse longitudinal (B) scans A B
Dorsal Radius: large erosion in a transverse scan WRIST
Lunatum: several coalescent erosions in longitudinal (A) and transverse (B) palmar scans A B
Dorsal Ulna, transverse scan: several coalescent erosions WRIST
Processus Styloideus of ulna: several coalescent erosions: longitudinal dorsal (A) and transverse dorsal (B) scans A B
ELBOW Radial head in anterior longitudinal scan : large erosion
Actual limitations Acoustic window Pitfalls –physiological vessel bone channels, normal irregularities of cortical bone, grooves, sesamoids Co-existent OA may be confused with erosions – pseudo-erosions, osteophytes
ENTHESOPHYTES Enthesophyte of the 2 MC visible in a longitudinal dorsal scan (arrow)
IRREGULARITIES, EROSION OR PRE-EROSION ? Radial aspect of 2 nd MC : longitudinal scan (A) and transverse scan (B) A B