Felipe Aluja Jaramillo1, Diana Carolina Quiasúa Mejía2,3, Hector Mauricio Martínez Ordúz4, Cesar González Ardila5. 1. Radiology Department, Country Scan LTDA, Carrera 16 # 84a- 09 Cons. 323, Bogotá, Colombia. 2. Dermatology Department, Instituto de Pós-graduação Médica Carlos Chagas-Policlínica Geral do Rio de Janeiro, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. 3. Carrera 21 No 122-87, Bogotá, Colombia. 4. Radiology Department, Clínica Universitaria Colombia, Calle 23b # 66-46, Bogotá, Colombia. 5. Dermatology Department, Clínica Universitaria Colombia, Calle 23b # 66-46, Bogotá, Colombia.
Abstract
INTRODUCTION: The nails have a functional and esthetic importance for patients. Almost always, the nail disorders are diagnosed on the basis of clinical findings, but imaging methods may be required for a better assessment. These imaging methods, such as ultrasound and magnetic resonance, may help to establish an accurate diagnosis. Magnetic resonance imaging is not widely available and sometimes may be very expensive; that is why, ultrasound is an excellent imaging modality. Our objective is to expose the nail unit anatomy, the nail unit anatomy in ultrasound, and some of the frequent pathologies found in our daily practice. METHODS: A review of the literature was done to review the anatomy, technical aspects, and different findings in normal and abnormal nail unit ultrasound. RESULTS: Ultrasound offers an appropriate alternative for the evaluation of the nail unit, allows a real-time evaluation of each one of the components of the nail unit with an optimal visualization of these structures, and allows the evaluation of the thickness of the components, the vascularity, and blood flow by Doppler application. In addition, the nail unit disorder, such as infectious diseases, inflammatory and rheumatologic conditions, nail tumors, among others, may be assessed, not only in the diagnosis but also in the follow-up. Pre-surgical evaluation, surgical follow-up, and some procedures, such as biopsies, may be done by this technique. CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound is an excellent technique for evaluation of normal anatomy, diagnosis, and follow-up of patients with nail unit diseases. This is an alternative for other imaging methods and may be used for an accurate diagnosis approach.
INTRODUCTION: The nails have a functional and esthetic importance for patients. Almost always, the nail disorders are diagnosed on the basis of clinical findings, but imaging methods may be required for a better assessment. These imaging methods, such as ultrasound and magnetic resonance, may help to establish an accurate diagnosis. Magnetic resonance imaging is not widely available and sometimes may be very expensive; that is why, ultrasound is an excellent imaging modality. Our objective is to expose the nail unit anatomy, the nail unit anatomy in ultrasound, and some of the frequent pathologies found in our daily practice. METHODS: A review of the literature was done to review the anatomy, technical aspects, and different findings in normal and abnormal nail unit ultrasound. RESULTS: Ultrasound offers an appropriate alternative for the evaluation of the nail unit, allows a real-time evaluation of each one of the components of the nail unit with an optimal visualization of these structures, and allows the evaluation of the thickness of the components, the vascularity, and blood flow by Doppler application. In addition, the nail unit disorder, such as infectious diseases, inflammatory and rheumatologic conditions, nail tumors, among others, may be assessed, not only in the diagnosis but also in the follow-up. Pre-surgical evaluation, surgical follow-up, and some procedures, such as biopsies, may be done by this technique. CONCLUSIONS: Ultrasound is an excellent technique for evaluation of normal anatomy, diagnosis, and follow-up of patients with nail unit diseases. This is an alternative for other imaging methods and may be used for an accurate diagnosis approach.
Entities:
Keywords:
Connective tissue diseases; Infection; Nail diseases; Nails; Neoplasms; Ultrasonography
Authors: Orlando Catalano; Fernando Alfageme Roldán; Carlo Varelli; Robert Bard; Antonio Corvino; Ximena Wortsman Journal: J Ultrasound Date: 2019-05-08
Authors: Daniel Lopez-Castillo; Laia Curto-Barredo; Júlia M Sánchez-Schmidt; Ramon M Pujol Journal: Acta Derm Venereol Date: 2020-03-12 Impact factor: 3.875