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Autoinflammatory vs autoimmune?
Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) | Last Active: Sep 14 12:18pm | Replies (26)Comment receiving replies
@kjoed53
Thanks for all of that information from Claude. It's helpful to get information from different sources.
I was fortunate to have my Ultrasound done by an older MD with FACR and RhMSUS training and many years of experience.
You are correct that it depends a lot on the technician operating the Ultrasound and their education, experience, etc.
I've noticed that much of the information returned from queries will differ at least to some degree depending upon which search engine or App I'm using. Even the same search engine, when querried on laptop compared to smartphone has been slightly different. At any rate, I've found information that states that Ultrasound is used as first line practical tool due to it's price, and availability, and has 93-99% accuracy/specificity to detect bilateral subacromial-subdeltoid bursitis and PMR related activity.
I'm not sure if you saw another comment I made that PET is being used to diagnose more complex cases where whole body scan is needed to investigate for PMR and can detect GCA. It's not commonly used due to radiation, cost etc., but is also available. It's 18F-FDG-PET/CT specifically.
So, there are different scanning tools being used with different degrees of accuracy/specificity, and Ultrasound is 93-99% accurate to diagnose PMR in shoulders specifically. GCA can be detected also by Ultrasound. For whatever it's worth to anyone who'd like to look into Ultrasound as a pretty accurate tool. I hope all of the information we find and share is helpful to someone. Blessings.
Replies to "@kjoed53 Thanks for all of that information from Claude. It's helpful to get information from different..."
@boomermeg
There are many resources out there and it's difficult to weed through the information unless it gives a source. You can question the AI results and ask for verification. At least with Claude you can.
I had a PET scan when I was diagnosed with SMM. It didn't show anything significant in the report. Both my hematologist-oncologist and rheumatologist also reviewed the scan and read the report, but I'm told that there's such a thing as a PET MRI which is more detailed than a regular scan. For instance, in SMM it can detect the beginning of bone lesions whereas the scan can only detect them later. Maybe an MRI will eventually be the best diagnostic tool as opposed to scans or ultrasound. Of course insurance usually dictates the first course of action.
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@boomermeg
I get worried about some of the artificial intelligence information that is generated. The source of the information is sometimes attributed to online patient forums. There is one PMR forum where the same information is repeated over and over again about the "best way" to taper off prednsone. There is no medical research that explicitly states that one method of tapering off Prednisone is superior to any other method. However, artificial intelligence cites a patient forum as the source of the information as if it is a fact.
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At least the AI search I did on the above paragraph admits to a flaw.
" If an online patient forum repeats a specific, highly detailed Polymyalgia Rheumatica (PMR) tapering schedule thousands of times, the AI learns that this pattern is highly relevant to the topic. Without strict guardrails, the AI can mistakenly echo that community consensus as if it were a proven medical fact."