Ultrasound Doppler
Color Doppler ultrasound is an imaging technique that uses sound waves to measure blood flow and then converts these measurements into colors to show the speed and direction of blood flow. The accuracy of ultrasound analysis can be significantly enhanced by the additional use of Color Doppler, which can distinguish between vascular and non-vascular lesions and recognize the benign/malignant nature of skin neoplasms by characterizing the vascularization type. On Color Doppler, vascularity varies but is generally lower in basal cell carcinoma (BCC) compared to squamous cell carcinoma (SCC), with vessels exhibiting lower velocities. However, some cases of BCC and SCC may show prominent vascularity. Melanomas, tend to be hypervascular with low- to intermediate-velocity vessels. Color Doppler is also useful for detecting satellite metastases of melanoma (≥2 cm from the primary tumor), in-transit metastases (<2 cm from the primary tumor), and nodal metastases. On Color Doppler, there are variable degrees of hypervascularity—reflected in the number, thickness, type, and velocity of the vessels—according to the level of inflammation. The use of color Doppler ultrasound to support the management of inflammatory cutaneous diseases has been widely reported in the literature. It can assist in establishing the diagnosis, assessing the extent, and evaluating the severity of both focal and systemic inflammatory conditions. Additionally, ultrasonographic scoring systems are available for detecting the activity and severity of certain inflammatory cutaneous diseases, such as acne, hidradenitis suppurativa, and morphea. These scoring systems can facilitate the management of these diseases over time. Other applications of Doppler ultrasound described by Ximena Wortsman include the assessment of abscesses, foreign bodies, warts, rosacea, panniculitis, pseudo-lymphoma, psoriasis, cutaneous lupus, and dermatomyositis.