Relationship between radiographic joint space narrowing, sonographic cartilage thickness and anatomy in rheumatoid arthritis and control joints

Objective

To validate ultrasound (US) for measuring metacarpal cartilage thickness (MCT), by comparing it with anatomical measurement using cadaver specimens. To correlate US MCT with radiographic joint space narrowing (JSN) or width (JSW) in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA).

Methods

Bilateral metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints of 35 consecutive outpatients, with recent hand X-rays, were included in the analysis....