Finally, data were analyzed using a statistical package IBM SPSS, limited by an obvious lack in the numbers of the cohort and the control group. Statistical analysis of data was performed by means of Mc Neman’s test for binomial data to assess differences in sensitivity and specificity.
Results We reviewed 32 high-frequency ultrasound images of 28 patients (one patient had 5 lesions). Three different ultrasound units have been used sequentially during the period 1996-2008. The first two types of equipment, AU4 and AU5, which had the same probe, did not show any relevant image quality difference. Although using a slightly lower frequency with respect to the LY2603618 mouse previous ones DNA Damage inhibitor (18 MHz versus 20 MHz), the third apparatus, a My Lab70, showed a better image quality when the lesion size was compatible to the piezoelectric crystal resolution power. The size of the 32 lesions ranged from 3 to 22 mm. In particular, 2 cases exceeded 20 mm, 6 were between 10 and 20 mm and the remaining 24 were smaller than 10 mm. In 20 cases, the lesions were localized on the head, 2 on the neck, 8 on the forearm, in 1 case on the wrists and one on the back (Table 1 – Location of pilomatricoma). Table 1 Locations of pilomatricomas Localization No. of lesions Head 20 Upper extremity 8 Neck 2 Wrist 1 Trunk 1 We compared each clinical ultrasonographic diagnosis to the respective definitive histopathological response of the lesions.
22/32 cases (69%) were correctly diagnosed as PM, 7/32 cases (22%) were misdiagnosed and in 3/32 cases (9%), it was not possible to assess any diagnostic hypothesis with ultrasound. In 4 Selleck Apoptosis Compound Library cases, vascular signals were visible with colour and power Doppler; this feature was usually peripheral and only rarely intra-lesional,
and was observed in lesions larger than 10 mm. The apparatus Sucrase setting was that generally used for superficial lesions at low flow speed. Tumour locations were always superficial, between the dermis and subcutaneous tissue. Our ultrasound images, obtained with high-frequency probes, in all correctly diagnosed cases, showed solid, hypoechoic, and sharp rimmed lesions: 10 were fully calcified (Fig. 1) and 12 partially calcified (Fig. 2); 5 of the latter had only calcified microspots. In 4 cases, a perilesional peripheral hypoechoic halo was also observed. Figure 1 Pattern type 1: nodulation fully calcified, no longer evaluable. Figure 2 Pattern type 2: partially calcified nodulation, mostly solid, hypoechogenic, with well defined borders, and coarse calcifications. In 3 uncertain diagnosed cases, a complex ultrasound lesion (mixed pattern) was found, with mixed fluid and solid areas, scattered microcalcifications, and some signals to the colour Doppler (Fig. 3). The 7 misdiagnosed cases included 3 mixed pattern lesion, 2 cystic-like (Fig. 4) and 2 solid, vascularised nodules with irregular contours (Fig. 5) (Table. 2-US findings of pilomatricomas).