Traditionally, arthritis is diagnosed by patient history, X-rays and blood tests. Ralf Thiele, M.D., Rheumatologist at the University of Rochester Medical Center, says while X-rays can provide good information about the bones in a joint, they don’t show the soft tissues, so doctors can’t tell if, or how much, inflammation is present. MRI’s can be used to image the soft tissues, but it can take several days to get scheduled for an exam and is very expensive.

Thiele likes to use ultrasound to diagnose and monitor patients with arthritis. Ultrasound uses sound waves that bounce off structures inside the body. The reflected sound waves are captured and analyzed by a computer, which produces images of the targeted tissue. Thiele says for arthritis, ultrasound can determine how much inflammation, if any, there is in a joint. That information is important because it helps distinguish the different types of arthritis. A scan only takes about five to ten minutes. Since it can be done right in the doctor’s office, a diagnosis can be given right away and patients get prompt treatment or physical therapy.

Ultrasound can also be used to help doctors with treatment. Sometimes doctors need to inject medications directly into a joint or remove joint fluid. Doctors can use ultrasound to guide placement of the needle. An ultrasound can be taken at each visit to monitor the status of the condition and see if treatments are helping.

Although ultrasound is widely available in many physicians’ offices or diagnostic centers, Thiele says many doctors don’t use it for arthritis. The main limit of ultrasound is the inability to clearly see the bones in a joint. When doctors suspect bone damage, a patient may still need an MRI.