Fairchild R, Chung M, Sharpless L, et al. - In the present study, the researchers sought to examine the ability of ultrasound (US) compared with radiographs to detect calcinosis in hands/wrists of patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and to evaluate US markers of pathologic perfusion. Calcinosis in the hands/wrists was assessed in patients with SSc using radiographs and US. Bilateral US vascular measurements of ulnar artery occlusion (UAO) and finger pulp blood flow (FPBF) have been obtained. For each hand, connections between markers of pathologic blood flow (UAO, FPBF, and a composite severity score of UAO and FPBF) and the presence of calcinosis were evaluated utilizing generalized estimating equations. On radiographs, 39.5% of 43 patients with SSc (19 diffuse, 24 limited) had calcinosis, compared with 30.2% on US. Sensitivity and specificity for US were 61% and 95% by zone, 78% and 98% by hand, and 76% and 100% by patient, respectively. In detecting calcinosis in SSc, US was both sensitive and specific. UAO was found to be strongly linked to radiograph-identified calcinosis.