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Hidradenitis suppurativa: Current understanding, diagnostic and surgical challenges, and developments in ultrasound
Kenneth Elkin1, Steven Daveluy2, Kamran Mohammad Avanaki1,3
1Wayne State University School of Medicine, Detroit, MI, USA.
Insights
Ultrasound (US) imaging aids in diagnosing and managing hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), a chronic skin condition. While beneficial, understanding its limitations is crucial for effective patient care and further research.
Area of Science:
- Dermatology
- Medical Imaging
Background:
- Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is a severe, chronic skin disease with no cure, impacting patient health and healthcare costs.
- Research in HS has surged 400% in five years, focusing on improving diagnosis and treatment.
- Ultrasound (US) imaging is increasingly studied for its role in HS management.
Purpose of the Study:
- To synthesize current knowledge on the use of US imaging in hidradenitis suppurativa.
- To explore how US imaging can overcome diagnostic and surgical challenges in HS.
- To evaluate the advantages and limitations of US imaging for HS.
Main Methods:
- Comprehensive literature review of US imaging in HS patients.
- Supplementary review of the current state of hidradenitis suppurativa.
Main Results:
- Ultrasound imaging is effective for HS diagnosis, monitoring, and preoperative assessment.
- US imaging helps detect subclinical disease, a key diagnostic challenge in HS.
- The benefits and drawbacks of US imaging in HS are becoming clearer.
Conclusions:
- Ultrasound imaging is a valuable tool for managing hidradenitis suppurativa.
- Further standardization and implementation of US imaging can enhance patient care.
- Additional research is warranted to fully leverage US imaging in HS treatment.
Background:
Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) is debilitating, costly, chronic disease for which no cure exists and which often precipitates greater health concerns. While we are making advances in understanding, HS remains an area of attention which is evidenced by a 400% increase in research studies involving HS in the past 5 years. This includes research regarding the advantages and limitations of ultrasound (US) imaging and its ability to enhance the surgical treatment and medical management of HS. Herein, we describe the diagnostic and surgical obstacles that HS presents, the foremost of which is detection of subclinical information, and perform an in-depth synthesis of current knowledge regarding the use of US imaging to mitigate these obstacles.
Materials And Methods:
A comprehensive literature review of US imaging in HS patients and a supplementary review of the current state of HS were conducted.
Conclusion:
Ultrasound imaging is a powerful tool in the diagnosis, monitoring, clinical management, and preoperative assessment of HS. However, it also has relevant limitations that necessitate additional consideration.
Significance:
Hidradenitis suppurativa is a disabling skin disease that presents a diagnostic and surgical challenge. The invaluable advantages and relevant limitations that US imaging offers are beginning to be understood, leading to standardization and increased implementation. US imaging has the potential to drastically improve patient care and merits further attention.
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