[Value of abdominal ultrasound screening in patients with benign diseases of the skin].
OBJECTIVE
We investigated the value of abdominal ultrasound screening of abdominal foci in patients with benign diseases of the skin.


METHODS
The data of 151 patients (age (mean) 56,6 years; male n = 79, female n = 72) from the department of dermatology were retrospectively analysed. The patients were sent for ultrasound evaluation of abdominal foci as cause of benign diseases of the skin.


RESULTS
In these 151 patients 3 potential foci were found (2 yen suspicion of a liver tumor, 1 yen thickened bowel wall). The liver tumors could not be confirmed by computed tomography, in the patient with a thickened bowel wall, a Crohńs disease was newly diagnosed. Abdominal ultrasound led to clinically relevant findings in fewer than 1 % of cases. We diagnosed 142 abnormal findings, mostly without clinical relevance. These abnormal findings caused follow-up examinations in 30 of the cases (19 computed tomographies; 2 magnetic resonance tomographies).


CONCLUSIONS
Abdominal ultrasound does not seem useful in the primary screening of patients with benign diseases of the skin. Perhaps a more restrictive and selective use of ultrasound could be valuable.
Bregenzer
N
N
Klinik und Poliklinik für Innere Medizin 1 und Ultraschallzentrum, Universitätsklinikum, Regensburg. nicole.bregenzer@klinik.uni-regensburg.de
Söldner
M
M
Gelbmann
C M
CM
Vogt
T
T
Schölmerich
J
J
Andus
T
T
D000005:Abdomen / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011322:Primary Prevention; D011860:Radiography, Abdominal; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology* / Q000517:prevention & control; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014463:Ultrasonography