Rheumatology Clinic

At our hospital, we actively perform the following tests during our Friday Rheumatology Clinic to assist in the early diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis and the evaluation of treatment efficacy. If you are experiencing joint symptoms or persistent pain, please feel free to consult with us.

Rheumatoid Arthritis and Joint Ultrasound (Echo)

Joint pain can arise not only from exercise or physical strain but also from infections like influenza, or conditions such as gout and osteoarthritis. Among these, rheumatoid arthritis is a disease where inflammation causes the synovial membrane inside the joint to proliferate, leading to swelling and pain. As it progresses, it can cause bone destruction and joint deformity, resulting in various functional impairments.

Diagnosis is determined comprehensively based on joint symptoms, blood tests, and X-ray findings. In recent years, joint ultrasound has become essential not only as a diagnostic aid but also for differentiating rheumatoid arthritis from other conditions.

A key advantage of joint ultrasound is the ability to visualize inflammation, allowing for an objective evaluation. Photo ① shows a normal wrist joint. When inflammation occurs in the same area due to rheumatoid arthritis, the synovial membrane proliferates, leading to what is known as synovitis, as seen in Photo ②.

 

Furthermore, ultrasound can evaluate the severity of inflammation by detecting “blood flow signals” that represent new blood vessel formation caused by synovitis. This is useful not only for monitoring disease activity during treatment but also for diagnosing difficult cases—such as when there is swelling without pain, or pain without visible swelling.

Additionally, ultrasound can identify whether pain is caused by factors other than arthritis by depicting tenosynovitis, enthesitis (inflammation where tendons or ligaments attach to bone), or bone spurs from osteoarthritis. For shoulder pain, as shown in Photo ③, detecting bursitis caused by Polymyalgia Rheumatica is highly effective for differentiating it from other conditions like “frozen shoulder” (periartheritis of the shoulder).

 

As shown in Photo ④, the joint ultrasound examination is performed in the consultation room by applying a probe with gel to the joint being observed. The procedure takes approximately 15 to 30 minutes, depending on the number of joints. It is a non-invasive test—meaning no radiation exposure or pain—and allows for real-time evaluation during your medical appointment.