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Ultrasound measured subcutaneous compressibility to help diagnose eosinophilic fasciitis
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Eosinophilic fasciitis can be distinguished from diffuse systemic sclerosis by using B-mode ultrasound to measure subcutaneous compressibility, especially when tissue sampling is not feasible or its results are equivocal, researchers reported.
During a 4-year period, investigators used 12-MHz, B-mode ultrasound to evaluate the degree of subcutaneous compressibility (SC) in tissue in clinically involved forearm skin of 51 consecutive patients with eosinophilic fasciitis (EF; n=12), diabetic cheiroarthropathy (DMc; n=8), diffuse systemic sclerosis (dcSSc; n=23), and controls (n=8). These findings were compared with the standard of clinical diagnostic criteria for each disease process.
Among EF patients, median SC was 8.5%, significantly less than among dcSSc patients (29.6%; P<0.001).
When compared with dcSSc and controls, the SC in EF was reduced. Subcutaneous thinning was observed in 33% of EF, 50% of DMc and 26% of dcSSc patients, but not among controls. Less than 20% SC was observed in DMc and dcSSc patients with subcutaneous thinning. One EF patient had more than 20% compressibility, regardless of thinning.
“Our simple technique assessing subcutaneous tissue elasticity using a commonly available ultrasound unit may be more widely applicable in the clinic setting,” the investigators concluded.
Disclosure: The researchers report no relevant financial disclosures.
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