International Journal of Preventive Medicine (Int J Prev Med)2008-78021062019070720992099ENAdvanced Diagnostic and Interventional Radiology Research Center, Imam Khomeini Hospital, TehranDepartment of Dermatology, Razi Hospital, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, TehranDepartment of Biomedical Engineering, Central Tehran Branch, Islamic Azad University, TehranDepartment of Rheumatology, Valiasr Hospital, Imam Hospital Complex, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, TehranDeraprtment of Epidemiology, Universal Council of Epidemiology, Universal Scientifc Education and Research Network, Tehran20190707<p><span class="fontstyle0"><strong>Background</strong>: </span><span class="fontstyle2">The objective of the study is to evaluate elastography ultrasound fndings in patients with scleroderma (SS) and to clarify the effectiveness of elastosonography to differentiate scleroderma lesions from any skin lesion considering tissue elasticity. </span></p><p><span class="fontstyle0"><strong>Methods</strong>: </span><span class="fontstyle2">Thirty‑six SS patients defnite diagnosis of systemic sclerosis according to American College of Rheumatology criteria and 36 healthy subjects were enrolled. Volar aspect of the middle forearm and arm in addition to the dorsal<br />aspect of the fngers were evaluated by sonoelastography. The RGB (red, green, blue) image is a three‑dimensional matrix. A color image RGB is an M × N × 3 array of color pixels. The total pixels, total blue pixels, and blue index compared between SS cases and controls. </span></p><p><span class="fontstyle0"><strong>Results</strong>: </span><span class="fontstyle2">Mean age of patients was 41.3 ± 10.3 years and mean age of controls was 39.8 ± 9.3 years. Mean‑modifed Rodnan skin score of the whole body was 11.9 and mean duration of disease was 6.2 years</span><span class="fontstyle0">. </span><span class="fontstyle2">Mean total blue pixels in the arm were signifcantly different between cases and controls. Mean total image pixels, total blue pixels, and blue index in the forearm were signifcantly different between<br />cases and controls. Elastography fndings in the fnger were not signifcantly different between cases and controls. </span></p><p><span class="fontstyle0"><strong>Conclusions</strong>: </span><span class="fontstyle2">Sonoelastography could be used for evaluating skin of forearm in<br />sclerodermic cases which will be helpful for disease evaluation in clinical course.<br /></span></p><p><span class="fontstyle0" style="color: #00652e;"><strong>Keywords</strong>: </span><span class="fontstyle3">Elasticity imaging techniques, scleroderma, skin</span></p>http://ijpm.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijpm/article/view/2099http://ijpm.mui.ac.ir/index.php/ijpm/article/download/2099/717717918