Brief Report: Power Doppler Ultrasonography for Detection of Increased Vascularity in the Fascia: A Potential Early Diagnostic Tool in Fasciitis of Dermatomyositis

Abstract

In our limited population, PDUS was useful for the detection of fasciitis associated with DM, especially in the early stage of disease. The increased blood flow signal as detected by PDUS is involved in angiogenesis accompanying fasciitis in patients with DM.

Diagnostic value of additional histopathological fascia examination in idiopathic inflammatory myopathies

“…Our findings support previous reports that fascia examination may have additional value in (early) diagnosis of DM . Furthermore, case B suggests that fascia examination has additional value in the diagnosis of NM/OM too.…”

Muscle ultrasonography is a potential tool for detecting fasciitis in dermatomyositis and polymyositis: comment on the article by Yoshida et al

“…Although this diagnosis was not confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging or biopsy, an increase of >5 SD in fascial thickening of the deltoid muscle is suggestive of fasciitis. These results correspond with the findings reported by Yoshida et al showing structural aberrations of the fascia in patients with DM . However, in contrast to the findings reported by Yoshida and colleagues, in our study we also detected thickening of the deltoid muscle fascia in patients with PM.…”

“…We read with interest the article by Yoshida and colleagues regarding the ability of muscle ultrasonography to detect fasciitis in patients with dermatomyositis (DM) during the early phase of disease . The authors used power Doppler ultrasonography for detection of inflammation and vascularity of the fascia of different muscles.…”

Reply

“…Recently, Bhansing et al showed a significant 2‐fold increase in fascial thickness of the deltoid muscles, using muscle ultrasonography in both patients with DM and patients with PM. We previously demonstrated that fasciitis is a frequent disease manifestation in patients with DM . In our studies, histologically confirmed hyperplasia of the fascia was observed in some DM patients with fasciitis.…”

“…Although fasciitis is a less frequent manifestation in patients with PM relative to patients with DM, we demonstrated that fasciitis could be detected in a few PM patients by en bloc biopsy . In both our studies and the study by Bhansing et al, PM was diagnosed according to the Bohan and Peter criteria .…”