S onography is a useful imaging tool for the examination of musculoskeletal pathology. There are many advantages to this technique, including easy accessibility, low cost, comparison with the asymptomatic limb, and patient comfort. Unlike other available modalities, dynamic assessment is readily performed using sonography. Furthermore, the use of Doppler technology allows assessment of vascularity, inflammation, and anatomical relationships of the structure in question to adjacent vessels. Interaction with the patient allows clinical findings to guide the examination. Because sonography has a long learning curve, its success is dependent upon operator experience, knowledge of regional anatomy, and awareness of indications for further imaging.
The acromioclavicular (AC) and sternoclavicular (SC) joints are susceptible to similar pathological processes that occur in other joints in the body. Sonographic examination of the SC and AC joints can prove technically challenging, making the sonographic features of different pathologies difficult to differentiate. The purpose of this article is to outline the value and technique for appropriate sonographic assessment of the AC and SC joints and to discuss and illustrate a variety of pathologies affecting these two joints. All cases illustrated were imaged using GE 700 or 900 series (General Electric Medical Imaging, Milwaukee, WI).