Objective:To investigate the diagnostic value and imaging characteristics of ultrasound and multi-slice spiral CT in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) wrist joint lesions.Methods:The clinical data of 54 cases of RA wrist arthropathy in Jianhu Hospital Affiliated to Nantong University from December 2018 to April 2020 were analyzed. All the patients were examined by ultrasound and multi-slice spiral CT. The imaging characteristics of ultrasound and multi-slice spiral CT were analyzed, and the detection rates of synovitis, joint effusion, tenosynovitis, bone erosion and wrist joint lesions were calculated.Results:A total of 1 188 joints were examined in 54 patients with RA, including 108 wrist joints, 540 metacarpophalangeal joints and 540 proximal interphalangeal joints. There was no significant difference in the detection rate of wrist joint synovitis, joint effusion and tenosynovitis between ultrasound and CT ( P>0.05). The wrist joint lesions detection rates of ultrasound and CT were 97.2%(105/108) and 46.3% (50/108), the difference was statistically significant ( χ2 = 36.52, P<0.05). Ultrasound image features: synovitis ultrasound image showed hypoechoic joint cavity, not by joint displacement or compression image, color Doppler flow imaging (CDFI) examination could see blood flow signal;joint effusion in ultrasound image of joint effusion was strip, strip-shaped, non-uniform distribution, image was affected by joint displacement or compression, CDFI examination had no blood flow signal; bone erosion ultrasound image showed bone cortical continuous interruption or "crater" "insect erosion" like defects. CT imaging features: wrist joint space narrow, osteoporosis, some patients with scaphoid, distal radius visible bone erosion. Conclusions:The detection rate of wrist synovitis, joint effusion and tenosynovitis by ultrasound and multi-row spiral CT are similar. The multi-row spiral CT examination have a slight advantage in evaluating the joint space and bone changes. The sensitivity of wrist bone erosion and wrist joint lesions are higher than those of multi-row spiral CT, which can guide the early clinical diagnosis and treatment of RA.