Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41419694›Full record

Observational studyClinical rheumatology2026

Diagnostic utility and reliability of the OMERACT semi-quantitative ultrasound scoring system in gout: a retrospective multicenter study.

Lu Yang, Shuai Fu, Zhenyu Wang, Zhongqiang Yao, Li-Gang Cui

Abstract readMulticenter StudyObservational Study
PubMed Publisher
In one paragraph

Observational study in Clinical rheumatology, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

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3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Article
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Lu YangDepartment of Ultrasound, Peking University Third Hospital, Haidian District, 49 North Garden Rd., Beijing, 100191, China.
Shuai FuDepartment of Ultrasound, Peking University Third Hospital, Haidian District, 49 North Garden Rd., Beijing, 100191, China.
Zhenyu WangDepartment of Radiation Oncology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China.
Zhongqiang YaoDepartment of Rheumatology, Peking University Third Hospital, Beijing, China.
Li-Gang CuiDepartment of Ultrasound, Peking University Third Hospital, Haidian District, 49 North Garden Rd., Beijing, 100191, China. cuiligang_bysy@126.com.ORCID http://orcid.org/0000-0002-0717-7445

Funding

National Natural Science Foundation of China 82102071
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectiveTo evaluate the diagnostic performance and reliability of the OMERACT semi-quantitative ultrasound scoring system compared with a binary scoring system for the diagnosis of gout in a multicenter setting.

methodsThis multicenter, retrospective observational study included 912 patients (457 with gout and 455 with non-gout inflammatory arthritis) from two institutions. All participants underwent standardized musculoskeletal ultrasound examinations of the hands and feet. Four elementary lesions (double contour sign, aggregates, tophus, and bone erosion) were assessed using both a binary classification (present/absent) and the OMERACT semi-quantitative scoring system (grades 0-3). Diagnostic accuracy was analyzed using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves against the 2015 ACR/EULAR gout classification criteria. Inter- and intra-observer reliability were assessed using weighted kappa (κ) statistics in 100 randomly selected cases.

resultsThe OMERACT semi-quantitative score demonstrated superior diagnostic accuracy (AUC 0.988, 95% CI 0.982-0.994) compared to the binary score (AUC 0.929, 95% CI 0.914-0.943; P < 0.001). At an optimal cutoff value of 1.5, the semi-quantitative score achieved a sensitivity of 96.5% and a specificity of 97.1%. Furthermore, the semi-quantitative system exhibited excellent reliability, with inter-observer and intra-observer weighted κ values of 0.85 and 0.91, respectively, outperforming the binary system (inter-observer κ = 0.75). Stratified analysis confirmed consistent diagnostic performance across participating centers (P = 0.1907).

conclusionThe OMERACT semi-quantitative ultrasound scoring system provides significantly higher diagnostic accuracy and reproducibility than the binary system for diagnosing gout. Its robustness and consistency across multicenter settings support its utility as a standardized, non-invasive tool for clinical practice and research. Key Points • The OMERACT semi-quantitative ultrasound scoring system demonstrated superior diagnostic accuracy for gout compared to the binary system (AUC 0.988 vs. 0.929). • The system achieved excellent inter- and intra-observer reliability (κ = 0.85 and 0.91), confirming strong reproducibility across centers. • This multicenter study provides robust real-world evidence supporting the generalizability and clinical applicability of the OMERACT scoring system. • The semi-quantitative scoring system offers a standardized, non-invasive, and highly reliable tool for diagnosing and monitoring gout in clinical and research settings.

Indexed as

GoutAdultAgedFemaleHumansMaleMiddle AgedObserver VariationReproducibility of ResultsRetrospective StudiesROC CurveSensitivity and SpecificitySeverity of Illness IndexUltrasonographyDiagnostic performanceGoutMusculoskeletal ultrasound (MSUS)OMERACT semi-quantitative ultrasound scoring system

Identifiers

PMID41419694

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.