ObjectiveTo study the clinical value of musculoskeletal ultrasound in the diagnosis of gouty arthritis.

MethodsEighty-two patients with arthritis were selected, including 41 patients with gouty arthritis as the gout group, and 41 patients with non-gouty arthritis as the non-gout group.Musculoskeletal ultrasound was used to examine the soft tissue swelling, tenosynovitis, and bursal swelling in the two groups, and the specificity and sensitivity of ultrasound in diagnosing gout were evaluated.

ResultsA total of 59 joint lesions were found in the gout group, and 70 joint lesions were found in the non-gout group, the difference of which was not statistically significant(P>0.05).The incidences of hyperechoic point in ligament, tophus, hyperechoic point and parallel lines in gout group were significantly higher than those in non-gout group(P < 0.01), and the incidences of tenosynovitis and bone erosion were significantly lower than those in non-gout group(P < 0.01).There was no significant difference in the incidence of synovial hyperplasia, blood flow, synovitis, ossification, and attachment bone erosion between the two groups(P>0.05).The sensitivity and specificity of one or more of the clinical findings of musculoskeletal ultrasound of patients in the gout group, such as tophus, parallel line, hyperechoic point in ligament, and hyperechoic point was 89.98% and 65.09%, respectively.

ConclusionsMusculoskeletal ultrasound findings such as hyperechoic point in ligament, tophus, hyperechoic point, parallel line, tenosynovitis, and bone erosion have certain clinical reference value in the diagnosis of gouty arthritis.