[Ultrasonographic semiology--correlation between anatomy and sonography of musculoskeletal tissue]

Diagnostic ultrasound (US) as noninvasive, non-ionisating and cost-effective imaging diagnostic technique has emerged as a useful imaging modality in rheumatology for the assessment of joint and soft tissue pathology. It can detect both early inflammatory soft tissue lesions (synovitis, tenosynovitis) and early erosive bone lesions in arthritis. Thus Power Doppler ultrasonography can differentiate active from inactive joint processes allowing monitoring of the new anti-inflammatory drugs used to treat inflammatory rheumatological diseases. In the process of learning the diagnostic technique memorizing and recognition of specific sonografic presentation of the different tissue structures, pathological processes, artifacts and pitfalls known as basic sonografic semiology is essential for appropriate interpretation of ultrasound image. In this paper ultrasound appearance of normal and basic pathological findings of different structures and tissues of musculoskeletal system is described and illustrated.