Vol.20 No.4

Original Article

Use of musculoskeletal ultrasound in Japan: a survey of practicing rheumatologists

Authors

Kaoru Takase1 , Shigeru Ohno1 , Haruko Ideguchi1 , Mitsuhiro Takeno2 , Akira Shirai2 , Yoshiaki Ishigatsubo2

  • Center for Rheumatic Diseases, Yokohama City University Medical Center, 4-57 Urafune-cho, Minami-ku, Yokohama Kanagawa, 232-0024, Japan
  • Department of Internal Medicine and Clinical Immunology, Yokohama City University Graduate School of Medicine, Yokohama, Japan
Received:

18 May 2009

Accepted:

1 March 2010

Published online:

30 March 2010

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Abstract

We aimed to describe how often Japanese rheumatologists currently use musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS), and how they are currently being trained in the use of this imaging technique. Questionnaires were sent to 200 Japanese rheumatologists: 100 to participants attending the first Scientific Meeting of the Japanese Society of Imaging in Rheumatic Diseases in 2006, and 100 to other randomly selected rheumatologists certified by the Japan College of Rheumatology. A total of 139 questionnaires (74 from meeting participants, 65 from randomly selected rheumatologists) were completed and analyzed. Twenty-four of the 74 respondents (32.4%) in the meeting participants group used MSUS imaging for patient management, while only 7 of the 65 respondents (10.8%) in the certified rheumatologists group used MSUS imaging for patient management. Sixty-five of the 74 respondents (87.8%) in the meeting participants group and 54 of the 65 respondents (83.1%) in the certified rheumatologists group considered MSUS to be a useful tool. Only a minority of respondents used MSUS in the management of their patients. Lack of training in MSUS was the principal reason for not performing MSUS. Japanese rheumatologists would prefer future training in the form of intensive courses and training sessions.

Key words

Imaging - Ultrasound - MRI - Rheumatology