Ultra-High-Frequency Ultrasound in the Evaluation of Paediatric Pilomatricoma Based on the Histopathologic Classification

The beauty of pediatric musculoskeletal ultrasound

Ultrasound is a powerful technique in pediatric imaging and musculoskeletal (MSK) imaging in many specific clinical scenarios. This article will feature some common and less common spot diagnoses in pediatric musculoskeletal ultrasound.Cases were collected by members of the Educational Committee of the ESSR (European Society of musculoSkeletal Radiology) and the Pediatric Subcommittee of the ESSR with expertise in musculoskeletal ultrasound.Fifteen clinical entities are discussed based on the features that allow diagnosis by ultrasound.Clinical history, location, and ultrasound appearance are the keys to spot diagnoses when performing pediatric musculoskeletal ultrasound. · Ultrasound in pediatric musculoskeletal imaging can achieve a diagnosis in specific clinical settings.. · Clinical history, location, and ultrasound appearance are keys to spot diagnoses.. · Knowledge of spot diagnoses in pediatric musculoskeletal ultrasound facilitates daily clinical practice..

Imaging the Micron: New Directions in Diagnosis with Ultra-High-Frequency Ultrasound

In recent decades, advancements in medical imaging technologies have revolutionized diagnostic and therapeutic approaches, enhancing the precision and efficacy of healthcare interventions [...].

Pilomatrixoma and its Imitators

Introduction: Pilomatrixomas are benign neoplasms derived from hair follicle matrix cells. They are among the most common soft tissue head and neck tumors of childhood. Pilomatrixomas are typically isolated, slow-growing, firm, nontender masses that are adherent to the epidermis but mobile in the subcutaneous plane. This clinical presentation is so characteristic that many experienced surgeons will excise suspected pilomatrixomas without prior imaging. We reviewed the results of this approach to determine whether physical examination alone differentiates pilomatrixomas from other similar soft tissue lesions of the pediatric head and neck. Methods: Computerized review of all pilomatrixomas over a 20-year period in a single academic pediatric otolaryngology practice. Results: 18 patients presented to our pediatric otolaryngology practice between 2001 and 2021 with historical and physical findings consistent with pilomatrixoma. Of the 18 patients, 7 were male and 11 were female. Ages ranged from 1.5 to 14 years, with a mean of 7.5 years. Most of the lesions (12) were located in the head and face, while the rest (6) were found in the neck. All patients were treated with complete surgical excision. Pathology confirmed pilomatrixoma in 15 patients. The remaining 3 children were found to have an epidermal inclusion cyst, a ruptured trichilemmal cyst, and a giant molluscum contagiosum lesion, respectively. One additional patient presented with a small lesion of the auricular helix that was thought to be a dermoid cyst, but proved to be a pilomatrixoma on histologic examination. Discussion: As pilomatrixomas are common and have a very characteristic presentation, surgical excision without prior diagnostic imaging will lead to correct treatment in the majority of cases. High resolution ultrasonography can help to confirm the diagnosis preoperatively, but is not definitive in large case series. Most of the cystic lesions that imitate pilomatrixoma will ultimately require surgical excision.

Confused subcutaneous nodules in children: Differential diagnosis of pilomatricoma in children

BACKGROUND

Pilomatricoma is a common but easily misdiagnosed tumor in children.

AIMS

To differentiate pilomatricoma from other common subcutaneous nodules in children.

PATIENTS/METHODS

Misdiagnosed subcutaneous nodules in four children were recorded.

RESULTS

A red mass on a 7-year-old boy's head which had been misdiagnosed pyogenic granuloma was proved to be pilomatricoma. A red mass on an 8-month-old boy's face which had been misdiagnosed infantile hemangioma also turned to be pilomotricoma. A red mass on a 21-month-old girl's breast, which had been misdiagnosed pilomatricoma, was proved to be infantile myofibroma. A subcutaneous nodule under a 13-month-old girl's armpit, which had been misdiagnosed pilomatricoma, turned to be BCG-associated lymphadenitis.

CONCLUSIONS

When a child with a subcutaneous nodule attends, pilomatricoma, vascular tumors, fibrous tumors, and BCG-associated lymphadenitis should be considered.

Clinical application of ultra-high frequency ultrasound: Discovering a new imaging frontier

The ultra-high frequency ultrasound (UHFUS) is characterized by the use of probes between 30 and 100 MHz. This technology has recently been introduced in clinical practice and represents an opportunity for the diagnosis of numerous pathologies. The high spatial resolution of UHFUS, up to 30 μ in pixel size, allows to study the pathological modifications and to guide microsurgery treatments in anatomical body structures not evaluable by conventional HFUS. The aim of this work is to provide a review of the literature on the current clinical applications of UHFUS and to discuss its added role in different clinical settings.

Performance of Ultrasound for Identifying Morphological Characteristics and Thickness of Cutaneous Basal Cell Carcinoma: A Systematic Review

Advances in ultrasound technology and non-surgical treatments of basal cell carcinomas (BCCs) have raised the need to study the performance of high-frequency ultrasound (HFUS) in BCCs. We aimed to assess the performance of HFUS in the evaluation of BCCs to formulate recommendations for its uses and conducted a systematic review of the literature to do so. A search of Central, Medline, Embase, CINHAL, and Web of Science was performed using key/MESH terms "ultrasonography" and "basal cell carcinoma" (January 2005-December 2020). We included primary studies reporting biopsy-confirmed BCCs for which the target intervention was ultrasound assessment at 15 MHz or higher frequency. Thirty articles were included, studying a total of 1,203 biopsy-confirmed BCCs. HFUS provides accurate depth measurements, especially for BCCs >1 mm. The definition of lateral margins in vivo needs further studies; however, ex vivo margin assessment seems convincing. There is a diagnostic role for HFUS in identifying higher recurrence risk BCC subtypes, which can help in risk stratification. Performance of HFUS is significant in BCC management. Pre-surgical scans may support case selection for Mohs. HFUS can improve safety when used to plan brachytherapy treatments, help with case selection and adjunct treatment choice pre-photodynamic therapy. Finally, HFUS can help follow lesions after intervention, particularly non-surgical management, and support the decision to observe or re-intervene. HFUS can enhance clinical practice by providing useful information that cannot be deducted from the clinical examination. It would be recommended to evaluate the extent, mainly depth, and detect the aggressiveness of the BCCs.

Sub-macroscopic skin presentation of acromegaly and effect of pituitary tumor surgery: A study using dermatoscopy and ultra-high-frequency ultrasound

OBJECTIVE

Excessive growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor 1 contribute to cutaneous changes in acromegaly. We investigated the sub-macroscopic skin manifestation of acromegaly patients and explored its reversibility upon hormone reduction after pituitary adenoma surgery.

DESIGN

Prospectively cohort study.

METHODS

We enrolled 26 patients with acromegaly and 26 patients with non-functioning pituitary adenomas undergoing pituitary adenomectomy at Peking Union Medical College Hospital from July 2021 to March 2022. Skin presentations were evaluated by dermatoscopy and ultra-high-frequency ultrasound before and after surgery.

RESULTS

Skin thickening, follicular plugs, perifollicular pigmentations, perifollicular orange haloes, red structureless areas, increased hair shafts, honeycomb-like pigmentations, widened dermatoglyphics, dilated appendage openings, excessive seborrhea, hyperhidrosis, enlarged pores, and acne-like lesions were commonly occurring in acromegaly patients, and their incidences were higher than the controls (P<0.05). At 3-month follow-up after surgery, the thickness of skin reduced (4.0 ± 0.4 to 3.7 ± 0.4, P=0.007), the incidences of hyperhidrosis (92.3% to 69.2%, P=0.035) and acne-like lesions (53.8% to 26.9%, P=0.048) declined, and the severity of multiple cutaneous lesions improved. Patients with surgical endocrine remission (53.8%) had greater declines in the thickness of skin than those without remission. Patients with improvement of >1 skin lesions were younger (P=0.028) and had higher baseline GH levels (P=0.021) than those with improvement of ≤1 skin lesion.

CONCLUSIONS

Dermatoscopy and ultra-high-frequency ultrasound provided augmented visual examination of the cutaneous changes in acromegaly. Some of the skin lesions could improve or reverse after pituitary surgery. Baseline GH levels, age, and endocrine remission were correlated with skin improvement at 3-month follow-up.