[Contribution of ultrasonography in inflammatory rheumatic disorders (rheumatoid arthritis, polymyalgia rheumatica and spondyloarthropathies)].

Ultrasonography may be very useful for the positive and differential diagnosis of inflammatory rheumatic disorders (rheumatoid arthritis [RA], polymyalgia rheumatica [PMR] and spondylarthropathies) and if necessary, for the treatment response evaluation (RA). Later in the course of the disease, ultrasonography may help in diagnosing some peripheral complications (tendinous ruptures, synovial cysts, superficial bursitis...) and is useful to guide corticosteroid injections (RA, spondylarthropathies). This article addresses the main ultrasonographic features of inflammatory rheumatic disorders and the role of ultrasonography relative to other imaging modalities (especially magnetic resonance [MR] imaging).