How ultrasound changed the practice of rheumatology: echoes of a 30-year collaboration

Ultrasound in medicine has a history arbitrarily going back to the days when a modified custom-built metal flaw detector was used in post-War Glasgow to diagnose abdominal masses. Spanning a period of 30 years, the article describes the coming of age of ultrasound within the field of rheumatology. This historical paper highlights collaborative research focusing on validation and standardization of the imaging modality. In addition, the work of several persons who have played a key role in the development of ultrasound in the field of rheumatology is emphasized. In real time and at the point of care, ultrasound can demonstrate where inflammation is present, thereby giving doctors and patients a better idea of why and where pain and stiffness originate. In retrospect, we may conclude that ultrasound has profoundly changed the practice of clinical rheumatology.