THE HISTOLOGICAL INTERPRETATION OF HIGH-FREQUENCY CUTANEOUS ULTRASOUND IMAGING

BACKGROUND. High frequency, high resolution B-scan ultrasound imaging (US) has been used to assess skin. The use of US is limited because of difficulty interpreting the various echoes. OBJECTIVES. To correlate the appearance of constant US echoes with histology in normal human sk ill. METHODS. Normal skin from eight volunteers was scanned with US at a frequency of 20-25 MHz, prior to excision form clinical reasons. Th e echogenic bands of the skin and histological measurements of various layers were related statistically. RESULTS. Three constant echogenic bands were identified, which correlated with skin surface, dermis, and subcutaneous fascia. CONCLUSION. The correct interpretation of echoge nic bands in normal skin allows for the US to be more reliably used fo r assessment of skin disorders. (C) 1997 by the American Society for D ermatologic Surgery, Inc.