How to perform high ultrasound examination of skin involvement among patients with systemic sclerosis – proposition of a unified protocol

Abstract

Introduction A fast and cheap method of skin assessment in systemic sclerosis (SSc) is an area of extensive research. Established in 1979, the Rodnan skin score is a palpation-based method used among clinicians. This method has some limitations, such as: examiner’s skills, subjective results, and no standardization. In the last few years researchers have been exploring ultrasound-based techniques as a possible tool for skin assessment among patients with SSc. The aim of the study is to develop a protocol of elastography-based skin imaging evaluation among patients with SSc. Material and methods Review of the literature and own experience. Results Proposition of elastography-based skin imaging protocol among patients with SSc. Conclusions The authors present a potential protocol of ultrasound-based examination of skin involvement among patients with SSc.

Updated Role of High-frequency Ultrasound in Assessing Dermatological Manifestations in Autoimmune Skin Diseases

“…In the meantime, HFUS facilitates the development of teledermatology as it can be used in an asynchronous store and forward manner, giving patients the possibility of being examined, monitored, and managed by a medical expert in a distant location (3). HFUS has some limitations (Table II; [63][64][65][66][67][68][69][70][71][72][73][74][75][76][77][78][79][80][81][82]. HFUS is of particular value in the diagnosis and differential diagnosis of skin cancer, especially melanoma.…”