skip to main content

OMERACT Ultrasound Scoring — SCE Rheumatology MCQ

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

HardMusculoskeletal ImagingOMERACT Ultrasound ScoringSCE Rheumatology

A 45-year-old woman with RA has bilateral knee effusions. Her rheumatologist performs an ultrasound and grades the synovitis using the OMERACT scoring system. Grey-scale synovitis is graded 2 (moderate synovial hypertrophy not bulging beyond bone surface) and power Doppler is grade 1 (mild single vessel signal). What does OMERACT ultrasound scoring measure?

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

Reveal the answer and explanation

Correct answer: D — Grade synovial hypertrophy and Doppler signal from zero to three

The best answer is “Grade synovial hypertrophy and Doppler signal from zero to three”. OMERACT (Outcome Measures in Rheumatology) ultrasound scoring provides a standardised semi-quantitative assessment of joint inflammation. Grey-scale synovitis is graded 0-3 (0=absent 1=minimal 2=moderate not beyond bone surface 3=severe extending beyond bone surface). Power Doppler is graded 0-3 (0=absent 1=mild single vessel 2=moderate confluent <50% of synovium 3=severe signals in >50%). This standardised approach enables reproducible assessment across clinicians and timepoints. EULAR imaging recommendations support ultrasound for monitoring RA disease activity and treatment response. The competing options represent related diagnoses, tests or treatments, but they do not match the decisive phenotype, safety constraint or management point in this stem.

Reference: EULAR imaging recommendations in rheumatoid arthritis: https://ard.bmj.com/content/72/6/804