title: [The usefulness of high frequency ultrasonography in dermatological practice--ultrasound features of selected cutaneous lesions].
abstract: Typical diagnostic process in dermatology includes clinical assessment, dermoscopic and histopathologic examination. Microsonography was initiated in seventies and much progress in the development of high-frequency scanners occurred since that time. The aim of the study was the assessment of high frequency ultrasonography in dermatologic diagnostics.
  
  
  METHODS
  Examination was performed with 30 MHz ultrasound transducer with 0,1 mm resolution and 7 mm penetration. We examined patients with benign and malignant neoplasms, cicatrical alopecia and morphea.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sonographically, the normal skin is composed of three layers: an epidermal entry echo, dermis and subcutaneous tissue. In healthy skin we can image small hypoechoic areas which correspond to hair folicules, vessels and sebaceous glands. Most of small skin neoplasmatic lesions were hypoechogenic and homogeneous on examination. Extensive lesions were multicomponent with normo-, hypo- and anechogenic structures. The assessment of lesion's boarders allows sometimes to conclude the invasiveness of the lesion. Areas of skin with clinically visible atrophy showed diffuse increasing of echogenicity. In early lesions, without accomplished fibrosis, diffuse decreasing of echogenicity can be observed, that is probably caused by inflammatory infiltration. In comparison to the healthy skin, the ultrasound scan of sclerotic skin shows a wide entry echo and highly reflective, thicker dermis as a result of the collagen fibers accumulation.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Above data suggest that ultrasonographic examination may be a valuable dermatologic diagnostic tool that completes classical dermatologic diagnostics and helps to plan the treatment.
authors.affiliation: Centralny Szpital Kliniczny MSWiA w Warszawie, Klinika Dermatologii, elzbieta.szymanska@cskmswia.pl
authors.forename: Elzbieta
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Szymańska
authors.forename: Małgorzata
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Maj
authors.forename: Magdalena
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Majsterek
authors.forename: Jerzy
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Litniewski
authors.forename: Andrzej
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nowicki
authors.forename: Lidia
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Rudnicka
mesh_terms: D003880:Dermatology / Q000379:methods; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D006801:Humans; D012867:Skin / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D012871:Skin Diseases / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D014463:Ultrasonography