The new frontiers of ultrasound in the complex world of vasculitides and scleroderma

Abstract

Modern US equipment allows rheumatologists to directly visualize vascular, musculoskeletal, dermal and internal organ structure. In multisystemic and challenging diseases such as vasculitides and scleroderma, where new outcome measures are required in both clinical practice and trials, US measures promise reproducible and objective scores of disease activity and extension. US reveals early pathognonomic abnormalities and may help start early treatment. © The Author 2012. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the British Society for Rheumatology. All rights reserved.