Specificity and sensitivity of ultrasonography in diagnosis of knee osteoarthritis: systematic review

Abstract

Knee osteoarthritis (KOA) is the most expected diagnosis for an arthropathy that causes discomfort and disability in older adults. Radiography is frequently used to assess patients with KOA and there have been few prior research evaluating the diagnostic efficacy of ultrasonography (US). The current study sought to assess the diagnostic efficacy of US in identifying various characteristics of KOA in scientific literature. Methods: This study was conducted following the PRISMA statement. A systematic search in PubMed, Web of Science, Scopus, and Embase databases was completed in March 2023. This study focused on the diagnostic value of US in KOA, including sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value. The quality assessment was conducted using the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tools. Results: Out of 552 records of database searches, finally, 2 studies met this systematic review’s eligibility criteria and were included. Both of the included studies were cross-sectional studies. US demonstrated remarkable sensitivity with adequate specificity for the detection of radiographic knee OA; however, it was found not to be an appropriate method for the detection of early KOA.