Possibilities of high-frequent ultrasound diagnostics in skin diseases diagnosis

Abstract

Objective: to evaluate the possibilities of using high-frequency ultrasound in the diagnosis of skin diseases. Material and methods: 169 patients with pigment and non-pigmented skin formations were examined according to a single diagnostic algorithm, which consisted of 4 stages: dermatological examination (digital dermatoscopy), automatic analysis in the online database Skin Passport, high-frequency ultrasound, surgeon s and/or oncologist consultation with pathomorphological examination. Results: based on stage 1, all patients were divided into clinical groups: 1st group (n = 74,43.79 %) - benign formation, group 2nd (n = 58, 34.32 %) - it is impossible to determine the nature of formation at this stage (doubtful), 3rd group (n = 12, 7.1 %) - malignant formation, 4th group (n = 25, 14.79%) - purulent-inflammatory disease. Data obtained at stage 1 in 96 % of cases coincided with the data in the Skin Passport system, which confirms the possibility of using this system as an alternative. Based on the results of stage 3 patients with dubious formations (n = 58) were sent to group 1 (n = 29) and group 3 (n = 3), also the use of this method allowed for more accurate differential diagnosis in the group of purulent-inflammatory skin diseases with the following distribution of patients. Based on the results of stage 4, malignant skin lesions were detected in patients of group 3 (n = 15) and 2 groups (n = 2). A comparative analysis of the effectiveness of a complex instrumental examination, including a high-frequency ultrasound, compared with dermatological examination. Conclusion: the complex use of non-invasive instrumental diagnostic methods with the use of high-frequency ultrasound allows for more effective detection of malignant neoplasms of the skin at early stages, differential diagnostics between benign and purulent inflammatory formations and dynamic monitoring of patients with pigmented and non-pigmented skin formations.