VISUALIZATION OF SUBCUTANEOUS ATROPHY OF CIRCUMSCRIBED SCLERODERMA WITH 20-MHZ-B-SCAN ULTRASOUND

The technique of 20-MHz B-scan sonography is non-invasive and allows q uantification of the different compartments of the skin. Seven patient s with atrophic linear circumscribed scleroderma and one patient with guttate circumscribed scleroderma were examined by ultrasound. All pat ients were found to have a total or subtotal loss of subcutaneous fatt y tissue, whereas the thickness of the dermis remained almost unchange d. These findings should lead to further investigation of the pathophy siological mechanism involved in subcutaneous atrophy in circumscribed scleroderma.