title: Conventional ultrasonography and sonoelastography in the assessment of plaque psoriasis under topical corticosteroid treatment - work in progress.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The objective of the study was to compare the efficiency of 20 MHz skin ultrasonography and 40 MHz conventional ultrasonography in the assessment of plaque psoriasis and to assess the efficiency of 40 MHz real-time sonoelastography in the early detection of steroid-induced skin atrophy in psoriatic plaques.
  
  
  METHODS
  Ultrasonographic blinded evaluation was performed on 16 plaques in three consecutive patients, at baseline and after hydrocortisone acetate 1% ointment six-week application. The parameters were epidermal and dermal thicknesses for gray-scale ultrasonography and strain ratio for sonoelastography. Strain ratio was computed between the dermis and the adjacent hypodermis. Student's t-test for paired samples was performed. A confidence level of p<.05 was considered significant.
  
  
  RESULTS
  At follow-up, epidermal thickness was significantly reduced with 20 MHz (p = .002) and 40 MHz sonography (p = .032), while dermal thickness varied insignifcantly with 20 MHz (p = .35) and 40 MHz sonography (p = .33). Measurements at 40 MHz were significantly higher than their 20 MHz counterparts at baseline (epidermis: p < .001; dermis: p = .003) and at follow-up (epidermis: p < .001; dermis: p = .001). Strain ratio revealed no significant change of dermal elasticity (p = .96).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Although epidermal and dermal measurements varied significantly with 20 MHz and 40 MHz ultrasonography, both techniques efficiently quantified treatment response by measuring the reduction of epidermal thickness. Sonoelastographic findings were consistent with the expected outcome of short-term use of low-potency corticosteroid. Further studies are recommended.
authors.affiliation: Radiology Department "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania. mcrisan7@yahoo.com.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cucoş
authors.affiliation: Histology Department, "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Crişan
authors.affiliation: Radiology Department "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors.forename: Manuela
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Lenghel
authors.affiliation: Radiology Department "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors.forename: Marina
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Dudea
authors.affiliation: Histology Department, "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors.forename: Roxana
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Croitoru
authors.affiliation: Radiology Department "Iuliu Hatieganu" University of Medicine and Pharmacy, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
authors.forename: Sorin M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Dudea
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000627:therapeutic use*; D001284:Atrophy; D004548:Elasticity / Q000187:drug effects; D054459:Elasticity Imaging Techniques; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D006854:Hydrocortisone / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000627:therapeutic use; D007090:Image Interpretation, Computer-Assisted; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011565:Psoriasis / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy*; D012016:Reference Values; D012867:Skin / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000187:drug effects / Q000473:pathology
chemical_list: D000893:Anti-Inflammatory Agents; C021650:hydrocortisone acetate; D006854:Hydrocortisone