Ultrasound Color histogram assessment allows better view of echotexture damage

The colored ultrasound images can better highlight the joint echotexture damage.

To detect echotexture changes in joints of patients with rheumatic diseases, through a color histogram, and to correlate the area measurements with the gray scale (GS).

Four patients with chondrocalcinosis, 5 patients with osteoarthritis and 1 patient with psoriatic arthritis were evalutated. A total of 104 synovitis (SYN) and calcifications (calcif) measurements in cm² were performed in the dorsal radiocarpal joint (DRR); triangular fibrocartilage complex (TFC); dorsal metacarpophalangeal joints (MCP) and lateral and medial knee suprapatellar recesses. For each GS measure, one was performed for each standard color image. Spearman was used for correlation analysis.

Mean±SD of image patterns: RGB (Red, Green and Blue) SYN 16.96±0.25cm²; indigo SYN 6.43±0.07cm², RGB Calcif 0.03±0.00cm²; indigo Calcif 0.06±0.03cm²; GS SYN 16.13±0.35cm² and GS Calcif 0.56±0.01cm². Correlations of color images patterns RGB DRR SYN and indigo DRR SYN: r=1, p<0.001; indigo DRR SYN and RGB suprapattelar SYN: r=1, p<0.001; RGB MCP SYN and indigo MCP SYN: r=1, p<0.001; indigo DRR calcif and RGB TFC calcif: r=1 p<0.001; the RGB and indigo measurement standards when correlated with GS for SYN and calcifs were not statistically significant (p=0.333 to 0.667).

The RGB and indigo patterns seem to better define these echotexture damage.