Ultrasound

The EULAR Online Introductory Ultrasound Course is an electronic form of continuous medical education in rheumatology. The course is managed by a scientific course committee responsible for controlling the structure and content of the course and for ensuring regular quality control and advancement.

The course is run entirely through the web, designed for 7 months of training. The course will cover 7 modules, starting each September and finishing in April, followed by a final online examination a month later. Upon passing the examination a EULAR certificate will be issued.

It is the objective of this course to offer theoretical basic skills on musculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS) showing different joint sites, in healthy subjects and in rheumatic diseases, using a wide variety of images and video clips. The course is being updated on a yearly basis.

Knowledge and skills are targeted at the level felt to be appropriate for European rheumatologists who would like to acquire a basic theoretical knowledge on MSUS. Participants of this course might later plan to continue with the training program by attending EULAR MSUS Courses and/or MSUS courses with EULAR endorsement.

Content:

1. B-mode MSUS and Doppler MSUS physics; indications and limits of MSUS; normal

findings and basic abnormalities; artefacts; image documentations; how to write a report

on MSUS findings

2. Sonoanatomy, scanning technique and basic pathology of the wrist and hand

3. Sonoanatomy, scanning technique and basic pathology of the elbow

4. Sonoanatomy, scanning technique and basic pathology of the shoulder

5. Sonoanatomy, scanning technique and basic pathology of the ankle and foot

6. Sonoanatomy, scanning technique and basic pathology of the knee

7. Sonoanatomy, scanning technique and basic pathology of the hip

Module structure:

Each module consists of the following

A set of clear learning outcomes

A written update/review on the topic containing free to be used pictures / figures / tables (a video clip for module 2-7).

Key references and, for some modules, a list of additional readings on specific details.

Two in-depth discussions expanding on relevant clinical problems with an evidence-based discussion.

Two interactive typical clinical cases with appropriate multiple-choice questions and immediate feedback.

An assessment section consisting of two sets of questions addressing core aspects of the module. For all clinical modules, the majority of questions will be case-based. Feedback on the reasoning behind the answer will be made available.

A possibility to send questions to the professor and a FAQ section to view

Copyright

Copyright will be held by EULAR. All educational materials will be considered free to use by the subsequent author groups in each module.