LOCALIZATION AND EXTENT OF LIPODERMATOSCL EROSIS CAN BE EVALUATED USING 20 MHZ ULTRASOUND

33 legs of patients with chronic venous insufficiency and 21 legs of h ealthy persons were examined by high resolution 20 MHz ultrasound. Wit h increasing lipodermatosclerosis - which was most pronounced in the m edium part of the lower leg - an increase of thickness and a decrease of echodensity of the dermis could be seen. The first sign of decrease d density was an echolucent band in the upper part of the dermis. Whil e in healthy subjects dermis and subcutaneous fat were clearly separat ed in ultrasound, in mild sclerosis differentiation was more difficult ; in extensive lipodermatosclerosis it often was not possible to disti nguish these parts of the skin. Localisation and extent of lipodermato sclerosis can be well demonstrated and evaluated by 20 MHz ultrasound.