Please login or create an account. If you do not have access to this content, you will be shown a 30 second preview and licensing options.

  • Presentation

Use of Ultrasound in the Management of Nail Disorders

Description

The presentation discusses the application of ultrasound in managing nail disorders, emphasizing its utility in both surgical and medical conditions. The speaker highlights that ultrasound frequency adjustments allow for targeted imaging of both deep and superficial tissue structures related to nails. Techniques such as B-mode imaging and Doppler assessments are used to analyze nail structures, detect vascularity, and diagnose conditions like glomus tumors, acro-fibromyxoma, and squamous cell carcinoma. Specific cases illustrate how ultrasound can identify features like intralesional shunts, periosteal reactions, and differentiate between benign and malignant lesions, aiding in surgical decision-making and monitoring for recurrences. The speaker also notes the importance of ultrasound in managing inflammatory conditions by assessing nail bed changes and the broader significance of these findings in relation to conditions like psoriasis. Tips for optimal ultrasound imaging, including gel application and scanning techniques, are provided to minimize artifacts and improve diagnostic accuracy. The presentation concludes with an acknowledgment of the vital role ultrasound plays in nail disorder management.

View more

Conclusions

  • High-frequency ultrasonography (HFUS) is effective for diagnosing and managing nail disorders.
  • Ultrasound can help localize nail lesions and assess their vascular characteristics.
  • HFUS is particularly useful for evaluating surgical candidates and differentiating between neoplastic and inflammatory nail conditions.
  • The imaging features provided by ultrasound can indicate the presence of specific tumors, such as glomus tumors and acral fibromyxomas, and assess treatment responses.
  • Characterization of nail matrix abnormalities, including echogenicity and the presence of a hypoechoic halo, can aid in diagnosing conditions like nail lichen planus and psoriasis.
  • Slow or arrested growth of the nail plate observed via ultrasound can guide the choice between medical and surgical treatments.
  • Certain ultrasound features, such as periosteal reaction, serve as red flags for potential bone infiltration by malignant lesions.
  • Sechi A, et al. Ultrasound features of the subungual glomus tumor and squamous cell carcinomas. Skin Res Technol. 2020(6):867-875.
  • Sechi A, Wortsman X. High-Frequency Ultrasound Features of Periungual Superficial Acral Fibromyxomas. J Cutan Med Surg. 2023;27(5):536-538.
  • Braswell, JAAD, 2015
  • Dahdah, JAAD 2008
  • Sechi, Dermatol Surg. 2021
  • Aluja Jaramillo F. J Ultrasound. 2017
  • Turner VL, Wortsman X. Ultrasound Features of Nail Lichen Planus. J Ultrasound Med. 2024
  • Sechi A, Starace M, Piraccini BM, Wortsman X. Ultrasound Features of Onychopapilloma at High-Frequency and Ultra-High Frequency. J Ultrasound Med. 2024 Jan;43(1):71-76.