ACTA FAC. MED. NAISS. 2006;  23 (4): 203-207

  Original article

Tatjana Stojkovic¹
Jelica Tiodorovic²
Milanka Ljubenovic²
Marija Davidovic³

¹Military Medical Center, Nis
²Clinic of Dermatology and Venereology, Clinical Center, Nis
³Health Center, Dermatovenerology, Leskovac

    SUMMARY

    In the prospective study, the modification of ultrasound characteristics of psoriatic plaques during fluocinolone acetonide treatment was examined. The investigation included 25 patients with chronic plaque-type psoriasis to whom fluocinolone acetonide was applied on the psoriatic lesions once a day in the period of 14 days. Lesions were evaluated before therapy, and after 7 and 14 days of topical treatment with fluocinolone acetonide. For ultrasound measurement, the apparatus used was Dermascan C of 20 MHz ultrasound frequency, 0,05mm axial resolution, 0,3mm lateral resolution, 13mm scanning depth. Ultrasonographic skin scanning visualizes acoustic tomograms which can be qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed. With the combined application of A- and B- modus echography, we measured the thickness of the enter echo, the width of subepi-dermal hypo-echogenic band under the enter echo and entire skin on the beforehand determined localities, after which the therapy results were compared. The results of the investigation indicated a significant regression of lesions, which was verified by ultrasound parameters. The size of the enter echo was reduced to 72% of the initial value. The dimensions of the hypo-echogenic band were reduced to 47% of the value before the therapy, and the skin thickness fell to 72% of the value measured before the therapy commencement. The conclusion is that high frequency ultrasound can be used as an objective method for monitoring and more precise assessment of therapy effect of various medications in dermatology.

    Key words: psoriasis vulgaris, ultrasound, fluocinolone acetonide