Sonoanatomy and Sonopathology of Complex Anatomic Areas

Musculoskeletal ultrasound (US) is an important part of rheumatologic practice and requires a thorough understanding of the anatomic details of the involved structures. In this article, we present three clinically relevant examples whose diagnosis and treatment are greatly enhanced by US examination. The subsheath surrounding the extensor carpi ulnaris tendon is an important structure that stabilizes the tendon and can be confused with pathologic changes. The pulleys of the flexor tendons of the fingers that are commonly involved in patients with rheumatologic disorders and are readily visible on high-resolution US, should be part of the routine evaluation of these patients. Lateral hip pain is a frequent presentation and US enables us to recognize the actual etiology of this problem.