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Musculoskeletal ultrasonography basics CLEVELAND CLINIC JOURNAL OF MEDICINE VOLUME 85 • NUMBER 4 APRIL 2018 283 Ultrasonography has been used to evaluate musculoskeletal problems for decades but has only recently become more widely available in the United States. Advances in technology and physician familiarity are increasing its role in orthopedic imaging. See related editorial, page 301 No single imaging method can yield all musculoskeletal diagnoses. Like any imaging technique, ultrasonography has strengths and weaknesses specific to orthopedics. Radiography, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) play important roles for investigating musculoskeletal problems and are complementary to each other and to ultrasonography. To help clinicians make informed decisions about ordering musculoskeletal ultrasonography, this article reviews the basic physics underlying ultrasonography, its advantages and disadvantages compared with other imaging methods, and common clinical applications. ■ CLASSIC TECHNOLOGY MAKING A RESURGENCE The first reports of the use of musculoskeletal ultrasonography appeared in the 1970s for investigating the rotator cuff,1–3 actually preceding reports of its use in obstetrics and gynecology.4 In the 1980s, reports emerged for evaluating the Achilles tendon.5,6 After that, its popularity in the United States plateaued, likely because of the advent of MRI, lower reimbursement and greater variability in interpretation compared with MRI, as well as a lack of physicians and sonographers trained in its use.7,8 Musculoskeletal ultrasonography is currently experiencing a resurgence. Although it remains a specialized service more commonly REVIEW doi:10.3949/ccjm.85a.17014 ABSTRACT Utrasonography is emerging as a core method to evaluate musculoskeletal problems. It is best used for imaging superficial structures limited to 1 quadrant of a joint. It has several advantages over other imaging methods: lower cost, ability to perform dynamic examinations, higher spatial resolution of superficial structures, better patient comfort, and essentially no contraindications. KEY POINTS Ultrasonography can be used to evaluate small fluid collections in soft tissue; joint effusions and synovitis; soft tissue masses (≤ 5 cm in diameter); tendon, ligament and muscle injuries; and peripheral nerve entrapment and lesions. Ultrasonography is not appropriate for survey examinations of vague or diffuse symptoms or for evaluating softtissue areas more than a few centimeters in diameter or more than a few centimeters deep. Musculoskeletal ultrasonography requires specially trained sonographers and interpreting physicians. MICHAEL C. FORNEY, MD Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Orthopaedic Surgery, Section of Musculoskeletal Imaging, Cleveland Clinic; Assistant Professor, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH PATRICIA B. DELZELL, MD Director of Musculoskeletal Ultrasound, Section of Musculoskeletal Imaging, Imaging institute, Cleveland Clinic; Assistant Professor, Cleveland Clinic Lerner College of Medicine of Case Western Reserve University, Cleveland, OH Downloaded from www.ccjm.org on August 19, 2022. For personal use only. All other uses require permission. 284 CLEVELAND CLINIC JOURNAL OF MEDICINE VOLUME 85 • NUMBER 4 APRIL 2018 MUSCULOSKELETAL ULTRASOUND available in large hospitals, its use is increasing rapidly, and it will likely become more widely available. ■ SPECIAL TRAINING REQUIRED Musculoskeletal ultrasonography is simply an ultrasonographic examination of part of the musculoskeletal system. But because not all ultrasonographic transducers offer sufficient resolution for musculoskeletal evaluation and not all sonographers and imaging physicians are familiar with the specialized techniques, musculoskeletal ultrasonography often has a separate designation (eg, “MSKUS,” “MSUS”). At Cleveland Clinic, it is offered through the department of musculoskeletal imaging by subspecialty-trained musculoskeletal radiologists and specially trained musculoskeletal ultrasonographers with 4 to 5 years of training in the technique. Musculoskeletal ultrasonography is also performed by physician groups with specialized training, including sports medicine physicians, rheumatologists, physiatrists, neurologists, and orthopedic surgeons. The American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine offers voluntary accreditation for practice groups using musculoskeletal ultrasonography. Certification in musculoskeletal radiology is offered to sonographers through the American Registry for Diagnostic Medical Sonography. ■ SONOGRAPHY HAS UNIQUE QUALITIES Ultrasonography uses high-frequency sound waves to generate images. The transducer (or probe) emits sound from the many piezoelectric elements at its surface, and the sound waves travel through and react with tissues. Sound reflected by tissues is detected by the transducer and converted to an image. Objects that reflect sound appear
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