Diagnosis
Quantification of skin stiffness in patients with systemic sclerosis using real-time shear wave elastography: a preliminary study
Y. Yang1, F. Yan2, L. Wang3, X. Xiang4, Y. Tang5, Q. Li6, L. Xiaoyan7
- Department of Ultrasound, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
- Department of Ultrasound; and Clinical Ultrasound Imaging Drug Research Lab, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China. yan_feng@scu.edu.cn
- Department of Ultrasound, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
- Department of Ultrasound, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
- Department of Ultrasound, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China.
- Department of Ultrasound, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, China. wsqiuli@126.com
- Department of Dermatology, West China Hospital of Sichuan University, Chengdu, Sichuan Province, China.
CER10934
2018 Vol.36, N°4 ,Suppl.113
PI 0118, PF 0125
Diagnosis
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PMID: 29998836 [PubMed]
Received: 01/11/2017
Accepted : 02/05/2018
In Press: 11/06/2018
Published: 29/09/2018
Abstract
OBJECTIVES:
To assess the diagnostic value of shear wave elastography (SWE) quantification in patients with systemic sclerosis (SSc) and healthy controls.
METHODS:
Skin elastic modulus (E) values and thicknesses were measured at 6 skin sites between the SSc (n=37) and control (n=37) groups. Thickness and E values were converted into T- and E-scores, to allow skin thickness and stiffness of different regions to be quantified based on a single standard. T- and E-scores were compared with the modified Rodnan skin score (mRSS).
RESULTS:
E values were significantly higher in SSc patients than healthy controls at all measured sites (p<0.001), whereas skin thickness increased significantly only at fingers and forearms (p<0.001). E-score analysis revealed mRSS differences within 1.0 at most sites, while T- score evaluation only showed differences between mRSS 0 and mRSS 1 at fingers. Interestingly, mRSS correlated more closely with skin stiffness (r=0.889, p<0.001) than skin thickness (r=0.465, p=0.002).
CONCLUSIONS:
In patients with SSc, SWE is more sensitive to detect subtle skin changes than B-mode ultrasound (US), and reflect the degree of skin involvement. As a non-invasive and operator-independent technique, SWE may provide a new and valuable method to evaluate the degree and changes of skin involvement in SSc patients.
