What tests can be used to detect knee synovitis?

Knee synovitis can be diagnosed through magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), ultrasound and X-ray examinations, and a clear diagnosis can be made based on the doctor's clinical judgment and symptom analysis. Early diagnosis helps prevent the disease from getting worse, so it is recommended to see a doctor as soon as possible to develop a reasonable treatment plan.

1. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI)

MRI is one of the preferred methods for examining knee synovitis. It can clearly show the inflammatory changes of the synovium, effusion, and the soft tissue of the tibiofemoral joint. MRI can accurately determine the synovial hyperplasia, abnormal thickness, or whether there are other combined injuries (such as meniscus injury or ligament problems). This is of great significance for clarifying the cause and formulating treatment plans. This examination process is non-invasive to the body, but the cost is relatively high.

2. Ultrasound examination

Ultrasound can be used to observe synovial inflammation and joint effusion in the knee joint, and is particularly suitable for initial screening and monitoring of disease changes. The advantages of ultrasound are that it is fast, convenient and relatively affordable, especially for the inflammatory response of superficial tissues, which makes it suitable for clinical follow-up, but its accuracy may not be as good as MRI.

3. X-ray examination

X-rays are mainly used to rule out bone lesions (such as fractures, osteoarthritis) and joint structure problems, and generally do not directly show subtle inflammation of the synovium. However, for some patients, X-rays can show changes in joint space narrowing and chronic lesions, helping doctors rule out other knee lesions.

suggestion:

When confirming synovitis, the doctor will determine whether further examination is needed based on the symptoms and physical examination results combined with imaging. Usually, the above three examination methods can be used in a complementary manner, and one or more methods can be selected according to the patient's condition. In some cases, joint fluid may be extracted for laboratory analysis to further clarify the cause of inflammation (such as infectious or immune synovitis).

Knee synovitis is a common disease that affects the quality of life. Early detection and early treatment are very important. If you experience symptoms such as swelling, stiffness, or limited mobility of the knee joint, it is best to go to a professional hospital for examination as soon as possible to avoid delaying the disease and protect the long-term health of the knee.