Sixteen faculty and fellows participated in Duke's inaugural two-day Musculoskeletal Ultrasound in Rheumatology Training Course in April.
This Duke CME accredited event, chaired by Robert Keenan, MD, MPH, and Lisa Criscione-Schreiber, MD, both assistant professors of medicine in the Division of Rheumatology and Immunology, included lectures and hands-on demonstrations by guest faculty Alvin F. Wells, MD, PhD, adjunct assistant professor of medicine; Amy Evangelisto, MD, FACR, Arthritis, Rheumatic and Back Disease Associates; Johannes Roth, MD, associate professor of pediatrics, University of Ottawa; and Jonathan Samuels, MD, assistant professor of medicine, NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases.
In the spring of 2013, this training course will be opened to participants regionally.
Musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSK US) has been an increasingly important imaging modality in rheumatology.
Over the last 15 years rheumatologists have published more papers on musculoskeletal ultrasound than any other specialty. Indications for MSK US in rheumatology include early detection of erosive disease and enthesitis, assessment of synovial thickening, joint effusions, crystal disease, and even treatment response. MSK US can also be used for needle guidance in arthrocentesis and injections.