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RA Ultrasound — SCE Rheumatology MCQ

Instant feedback + full explanation. One question, done properly.

HardMusculoskeletal ImagingRA UltrasoundSCE Rheumatology

A 48-year-old woman with RA has a hand ultrasound showing grade 2 greyscale synovitis and grade 2 power Doppler signal at the 2nd and 3rd MCP joints. She has DAS28-CRP of 2.8 but her rheumatologist is concerned about subclinical inflammation. What does the power Doppler signal indicate?

Educational content. Not a substitute for clinical judgement or local policy.

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Correct answer: E — Active synovial vascularity indicating ongoing inflammation

The best answer is “Active synovial vascularity indicating ongoing inflammation”. Active synovial vascularity indicating ongoing inflammation is supported by the cited UK or directly applicable specialist authority and best matches the tested threshold, complication or monitoring principle. The remaining choices—“Chronic inactive scarring, within a rheumatology pathway”, “Normal vascular pattern, after specialist assessment”, “Crystal deposition, with clinical reassessment”, “Infection, within a rheumatology pathway”—are credible in related rheumatology presentations, but each addresses a different diagnosis, investigation, treatment sequence or complication and does not fit the decisive findings in this stem.

Reference: NICE NG100 rheumatoid arthritis in adults: https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/ng100/chapter/Recommendations