title: Ultrasonography of nodular and infiltrative lesions of the skin and subcutaneous tissues.
abstract: Ultrasonography with high-frequency probes was performed on 80 dermatological patients carrying palpable lesions of the skin. The case list included hemo- and lymphangiomas (16 cases), cysts (13 cases), Kaposi sarcomas (9 cases), and panniculitis (20 cases). All lesions underwent open biopsy and histological examination. Ultrasound yielded technically adequate images in 74/80 cases (93%). Angiomas appeared as multiple transonic cavities separated by hyperechoic septa; cysts were usually echo free or weakly echogenic, with smooth outlines. Kaposi sarcomas corresponded to superficial hypoechoic nodules with blurred margins, while panniculitis appeared as a diffuse thickening of the subcutaneous space. When acute inflammation was present, as in most cases of erythema nodosum, a nonhomogeneous hypoechoic pattern was found.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Radiological Sciences, University of Milan, Italy.
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Nessi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Betti
authors.forename: P L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Bencini
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Crosti
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Blanc
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Uslenghi
mesh_terms: D003560:Cysts / Q000175:diagnosis*; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005188:False Negative Reactions; D006801:Humans; D010201:Panniculitis, Nodular Nonsuppurative / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D014463:Ultrasonography