Open Access Rheumatology: Research and Reviews (Apr 2022)

The Emerging Era of Interventional Imaging in Rheumatology: An Overview During the Coronavirus Disease-2019 (COVID-19) Pandemic

  • Fotouh AA,
  • Hamdy M,
  • Ali F,
  • Mohamed EF,
  • Allam A,
  • Hassan WA,
  • Elsaman A,
  • El-Najjar A,
  • Amer MA,
  • Mosad D,
  • Tharwat S,
  • El Bakry SA,
  • Saleh H,
  • Zaghloul A,
  • Mahmoud M,
  • Mohammed RHA,
  • El-Saadany H,
  • Fathi HM,
  • Hammam N,
  • Raafat HA,
  • Moharram AN,
  • Gheita TA

Journal volume & issue
Vol. Volume 14
pp. 43 – 56

Abstract

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Adham Aboul Fotouh,1 Mona Hamdy,2 Fatma Ali,2 Eman F Mohamed,3 Abdallah Allam,4 Waleed A Hassan,5 Ahmed Elsaman,6 Amany El-Najjar,7 Marwa A Amer,8 Doaa Mosad,9 Samar Tharwat,10 Samah A El Bakry,11 Hanan Saleh,12 Ahmed Zaghloul,13 Mostafa Mahmoud,14 Reem HA Mohammed,15 Hanan El-Saadany,4 Hanan M Fathi,16 Nevin Hammam,17 Hala A Raafat,15 Ashraf N Moharram,14 Tamer A Gheita15 On behalf of the Egyptian College of Rheumatology (ECR) Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Study Group1Cairo University Hospital, Cairo, Egypt; 2Rheumatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Minia University, Minia, Egypt; 3Internal Medicine Department, Rheumatology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, AlAzhar Girls, Cairo, Egypt; 4Rheumatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Tanta University, Tanta, Egypt; 5Rheumatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Benha University, Banha, Egypt; 6Rheumatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Sohag University, Sohag, Egypt; 7Rheumatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Zagazig University, Zagazig, Egypt; 8Rheumatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Alexandria University, Alexandria, Egypt; 9Rheumatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt; 10Internal Medicine Department, Rheumatology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Mansoura University, Mansoura, Egypt; 11Internal Medicine Department, Rheumatology Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt; 12Rheumatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Ain Shams University, Cairo, Egypt; 13Interventional Pain Management and Anesthesia, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt; 14Orthopedic and Microsurgery, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt; 15Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt; 16Rheumatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Fayoum University, Fayoum, Egypt; 17Rheumatology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Assiut University, Assiut, EgyptCorrespondence: Tamer A Gheita, Rheumatology and Clinical Immunology Department, Faculty of Medicine, Cairo University, Cairo, Egypt, Tel +20 1004567975, Email [email protected]: Imaging has long been taking its place in the diagnosis, monitor, and prognosis of rheumatic diseases. It plays a vital role in the appraisal of treatment. Key progress in the clinical practice of rheumatology is the innovation of advanced imaging modalities; such as musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS), computerized tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). These modalities introduced a promising noninvasive method for visualizing bone and soft tissues to enable an improved diagnosis. The use of MSUS in rheumatology is considered a landmark in the evolution of the specialty and its ease of use and many applications in rheumatic diseases make it a forerunner instrument in the practice. The use of MSUS among rheumatologists must parallel the development rate of the excellence revealed in the specialty. Moreover, innovative interventional imaging in rheumatology (III-R) is gaining fame and key roles in the near future for a comprehensive management of rheumatic diseases with precision. This review article throws light on the emergence of these robust innovations that may reshape the guidelines and practice in rheumatology, in particular, efforts to enhance best practice during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic are endorsed.Keywords: interventional imaging, musculoskeletal ultrasound, rheumatology, COVID-19 pandemic

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