Comparison of a handheld ultrasound device with cart-based ultrasound for the assessment of gout lesions in people with established gout
Authors' conclusion
Handheld ultrasound can detect gout lesions in people with established gout. However, concordance between cart-based and handheld ultrasound in detection of some gout lesions is low, particularly double contour and aggregates.
Study context
- Population
- People with established gout; lower limbs scanned at six sites (1st and 2nd MTP joints, knee, patellar ligament, Achilles tendon, peroneal tendons)
- Participants
- 21 people
- Comparison
- Handheld vs cart-based US for gout lesions
- Outcome
- Site-level inter-device agreement for double contour, tophus, erosion and aggregates (OMERACT definitions)
Methodological detailsrandomized scanning order, blinded image scoring, OMERACT definitions, Two rheumatologists scanned independently with devices in reversed order; blinded images scored by two rheumatologists experienced in gout US
- Randomized scanning order
- Blinded image scoring
- OMERACT definitions
- Two rheumatologists scanned independently with devices in reversed order; blinded images scored by two rheumatologists experienced in gout US
Performance
As reported in the abstract
Site-level inter-device agreement, kappa (percentage agreement)
Double contour, kappa (percentage agreement)
0.22
67%
Tophus, kappa (percentage agreement)
0.46
77%
Erosion, kappa (percentage agreement)
0.63
83%
Aggregates, kappa (percentage agreement)
0.37
75%
Further findings
Participants with ≥1 site with lesion
- Handheld: at least one site with double contour, tophus and erosions
- 90%
- Handheld: at least one site with aggregates
- 100%
- Similar findings using cart-based US
Lesion detection by location
- More aggregates detected by cart-based US in joints
- More tophi detected by handheld US in ligaments and tendons
Original publication
Comparison of a handheld ultrasound device with cart-based ultrasound for the assessment of gout lesions in people with established gout. Semin Arthritis Rheum. Published 15 August 2024. doi:10.
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