Standardized, musculoskeletal ultrasonographic reference values for healthy Korean adults

• Published in: The Korean journal of internal medicine Vol. 34; no. 6; pp. 1372 - 1380
• Main Authors: Kim, Hyun-Sook, Kim, Hae-Rim, Kim, Bo Young, Kim, Yun Sung, Jung, Young Ok, Choi, Sung Jae, Kim, Hyun-Ok, Hwang, Jiwon, Lee, Sunggun, Kim, Hyoun-Ah, Bang, So Young, Chai, Ji-Young, Park, Sung-Hoon, Yoon, Chong-Hyeon
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Korea (South) The Korean Association of Internal Medicine 01.11.2019; 대한내과학회
• Subjects: Adult; Anatomic Landmarks; education; Female; Healthy Volunteers; Humans; Male; Middle Aged; musculoskeletal; Musculoskeletal System - diagnostic imaging; Observer Variation; Original; Predictive Value of Tests; reference standards; Reference Values; Reproducibility of Results; Republic of Korea; ultrasonography; Ultrasonography - standards; Young Adult; 내과학; Republic of Korea; Reference standards; Musculoskeletal; Education; Ultrasonography
• ISSN: 1226-3303; 2005-6648; 2005-6648
• DOI: 10.3904/kjim.2016.397

To define standard reference values for musculoskeletal ultrasonography (MSUS) in Korea. A total of 251 healthy adults were recruited for this study. Ultrasonography was performed by experienced rheumatologists who had undergone four appropriate training programs in Korea. A General Electric LOGIQ electronic ultrasound device fitted with a 12 MHz linear transducer was employed. Mean values ± standard deviations (SDs) were defined as standard reference values. Intraclass correlation coefficients was employed to evaluate the extent of inter- and intraobserver agreement when MSUS measurements were made. The 251 study participants included 122 males. Mean subject age was 28.6 years. The average bone-to-capsule distance of the right-side second and third metacarpophalangeal (MCP) joints were 0.68 and 0.72 mm respectively, and those of the left-side joints 0.62 and 0.68 mm. The cartilage thicknesses of the rightside second and third MCP joints were 0.55 and 0.55 mm, and those of the leftside joints were 0.55 and 0.56 mm, respectively. The bone-to-capsule distances of the right and left wrists were 0.80 and 0.82 mm. In 12.4% of participants (31/251), the erosion score of the humeral head was 1.71. In the right-side knee joint, mean cartilage thicknesses of the medial and lateral condyles were 1.86 and 2.03 mm in longitudinal scans. High overall interobserver agreement was evident after appropriate training that included instruction on standard MSUS methodology. We defined standard reference values for MSUS in healthy Korean adults. The reliabilities of interobserver agreements were high after appropriate training program.