The Detection of Erosive Changes in the Joints of Hands and Feet in Rheumatoid Arthritis: A Comparison of Ultrasound and Radiology Methods

BACKGROUND: The detection of bone tissue erosions in cases of rheumatoid arthritis has a fundamental importance for the purpose of defining the treatment strategy and it indicates the unfavorable outcomes. It is recognized that the sensitivity of X-ray in detecting the bone tissue erosions is lower comparing to the ultrasound examination, especially at the early stages of the disease. The application of non-invasive and safe methods for the diagnostics of rheumatoid arthritis opens new possibilities for successful treatment.