Ximena Wortsman1, Fernando Alfageme2, Gaston Roustan2, Salvador Arias-Santiago2, Antonio Martorell2, Orlando Catalano2, Maria Scotto di Santolo2, Kian Zarchi2, Marcio Bouer2, Claudia Gonzalez2, Robert Bard2, Anitha Mandava2, Diana Gaitini2. 1. Departments of Radiology and Dermatology, Institute for Diagnostic Imaging and Research of the Skin and Soft Tissues, Clinica Servet, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile (X.W.); Department of Dermatology, Hospital Puerta del Hierro, Madrid, Spain (F.A., G.R.); Department of Dermatology, Virgen de las Nieves University Hospital, Granada, Spain (S.A.-S.); Department of Dermatology, Hospital de Manises, Valencia, Spain (A.Mar.); Department of Radiology, National Cancer Institute Fondazione Pascale, Naples, Italy (O.C.); Department of Radiology, Università Degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Naples, Italy (M.S.d.S.); Department of Dermatology, Roskilde Hospital, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark (K.Z.); Department of Radiology, Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil (M.B.); Department of Radiology, Instituto de Diagnóstico Médico, Instituto de Imágenes Diagnósticas, Bogota, Colombia (C.G.); Bard Cancer Center, New York, New York USA (R.B.); Department of Radiodiagnosis, Central Hospital, South Central Railway, Telangana, India (A.Man.); and Department of Medical Imaging, Rambam Health Care Centre, Haifa, Israel (D.G.). xworts@yahoo.com. 2. Departments of Radiology and Dermatology, Institute for Diagnostic Imaging and Research of the Skin and Soft Tissues, Clinica Servet, Faculty of Medicine, University of Chile, Santiago, Chile (X.W.); Department of Dermatology, Hospital Puerta del Hierro, Madrid, Spain (F.A., G.R.); Department of Dermatology, Virgen de las Nieves University Hospital, Granada, Spain (S.A.-S.); Department of Dermatology, Hospital de Manises, Valencia, Spain (A.Mar.); Department of Radiology, National Cancer Institute Fondazione Pascale, Naples, Italy (O.C.); Department of Radiology, Università Degli Studi di Napoli Federico II, Naples, Italy (M.S.d.S.); Department of Dermatology, Roskilde Hospital, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, Copenhagen, Denmark (K.Z.); Department of Radiology, Hospital das Clínicas da Faculdade de Medicina de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil (M.B.); Department of Radiology, Instituto de Diagnóstico Médico, Instituto de Imágenes Diagnósticas, Bogota, Colombia (C.G.); Bard Cancer Center, New York, New York USA (R.B.); Department of Radiodiagnosis, Central Hospital, South Central Railway, Telangana, India (A.Man.); and Department of Medical Imaging, Rambam Health Care Centre, Haifa, Israel (D.G.).
Abstract
OBJECTIVES: To support standardization for performing dermatologic ultrasound examinations. METHODS: An international working group, called DERMUS (Dermatologic Ultrasound), was formed, composed of physicians who have been working on a regular basis and publishing in peer-reviewed articles on dermatologic ultrasound. A questionnaire on 5 critical issues about performance of the examinations was prepared and distributed by e-mail. The areas of discussion included technical aspects, main areas of application, minimum number of examinations per year required for assessing competence, qualifications of the personnel in charge of the examination, and organization of courses. Final recommendations were approved on the basis of the agreement of more than 50% of the members. RESULTS: The minimum frequency recommended for performing dermatologic examinations was 15 MHz. Routine use of color Doppler ultrasound and the performance of spectral curve analysis for assessing the main vascularity of lesions were suggested. Three-dimensional reconstructions were considered optional. The main dermatologic applications were benign tumors, skin cancer, vascular anomalies, cosmetic field, nail disorders, and inflammatory diseases. The minimum number of examinations per year suggested by the group for assessing competence was 300. A physician and not a sonographer was recommended to be the person in charge of performing the examination. On course organization, a minimum of 2 levels of complexity (basic and advanced) was suggested. CONCLUSIONS: There is a need to standardize the performance and quality of dermatologic ultrasound examinations. The present guidelines written by an international group of specialists in the field may support this objective.
OBJECTIVES: To support standardization for performing dermatologic ultrasound examinations. METHODS: An international working group, called DERMUS (Dermatologic Ultrasound), was formed, composed of physicians who have been working on a regular basis and publishing in peer-reviewed articles on dermatologic ultrasound. A questionnaire on 5 critical issues about performance of the examinations was prepared and distributed by e-mail. The areas of discussion included technical aspects, main areas of application, minimum number of examinations per year required for assessing competence, qualifications of the personnel in charge of the examination, and organization of courses. Final recommendations were approved on the basis of the agreement of more than 50% of the members. RESULTS: The minimum frequency recommended for performing dermatologic examinations was 15 MHz. Routine use of color Doppler ultrasound and the performance of spectral curve analysis for assessing the main vascularity of lesions were suggested. Three-dimensional reconstructions were considered optional. The main dermatologic applications were benign tumors, skin cancer, vascular anomalies, cosmetic field, nail disorders, and inflammatory diseases. The minimum number of examinations per year suggested by the group for assessing competence was 300. A physician and not a sonographer was recommended to be the person in charge of performing the examination. On course organization, a minimum of 2 levels of complexity (basic and advanced) was suggested. CONCLUSIONS: There is a need to standardize the performance and quality of dermatologic ultrasound examinations. The present guidelines written by an international group of specialists in the field may support this objective.
Keywords:
color Doppler dermatology; dermatologic ultrasound; guidelines for dermatologic ultrasound; nail ultrasound; skin ultrasound; superficial structures; ultrasound in dermatology
Authors: Orlando Catalano; Fernando Alfageme Roldán; Carlo Varelli; Robert Bard; Antonio Corvino; Ximena Wortsman Journal: J Ultrasound Date: 2019-05-08
Authors: Raluca Maria Bungărdean; Mircea Sebastian Şerbănescu; Horaţiu Alexandru Colosi; Maria Crişan Journal: Rom J Morphol Embryol Date: 2021 Apr-Jun Impact factor: 1.033