Ultrasonographic evaluation of skin thickness in small breed dogs with hyperadrenocorticism

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to propose a standard for differentiation between normal dogs and patients with hyperadrenocorticism (HAC) by measuring skin thickness via ultrasonography in small breed dogs. Significant changes in skin thickness of patients treated with prednisolone (PDS) or patients with HAC treated with trilostane were evaluated. Skin thickness was retrospectively measured on three abdominal digital images obtained from small breed dogs weighing < 15 kg that underwent abdominal ultrasonography. Mean skin thickness of normal dogs was 1.03 ± 0.25 mm (mean ± SD). Both the HAC and PDS groups showed significantly thinner skin than that in the normal group. Seven of the 10 HAC patients treated with trilostane had increased skin thickness. The area under the curve value of 0.807 was based on the receiver operating characteristics (ROC) curve for differentiating normal dogs from HAC patients. Sensitivity was 76% and specificity was 73% when skin thickness was less than the 0.83 mm cutoff value. In conclusion, measurement of skin thickness in small breed dogs by using ultrasonography is likely to provide clinical information useful in differentiating HAC patients from normal dogs. However, exposure to PDS, trilostane, and other conditions may have a significant effect on skin thickness.

The Influence of Skin Thickness on Flash Glucose Monitoring System Accuracy in Dogs with Diabetes Mellitus

“…Skin thickness in dogs is reported to vary from 0.5 to 5.0 mm depending on several factors, such as the cutaneous site [ 23 ] and the state of hydration [ 17 ], as well as individual factors related to breed, age and sex [ 23 , 24 , 25 ]. The average skin thickness in this study was greater than has previously been reported [ 16 , 17 , 26 , 27 , 28 , 29 ]. A possible explanation is that the dorsum of the neck is one of the areas reported to have the thickest skin [ 23 , 24 ].…”

“…A possible explanation is that the dorsum of the neck is one of the areas reported to have the thickest skin [ 23 , 24 ]. Further, previous studies in which skin thickness in dogs was investigated were performed in healthy dogs or in dogs with hyperadrenocorticism, an endocrinopathy associated with a reduced skin thickness [ 29 ]. In contrast, our study includes dogs with naturally occurring DM, which, in humans, is associated with scleredema diabeticorum [ 30 ], a dermatologic complication characterized by thickening of the skin affecting the posterior neck.…”

Penetration depth study of 830 nm low-intensity laser therapy on living dog tissue

“…Moreover, the differences in skin thickness and skin characteristics in different species may affect laser-tissue interaction [ 17 ]. In dogs, the skin thickness measured using ultrasonography has a mean thickness within 0.97-3.6 mm [ 18 , 19 ], whereas mean skin thickness in humans is within 2.5-5.0 mm [ 20 , 21 ]. Therefore, the beneficial outcomes in veterinary practice may require proper parameter settings and an understanding of the limitations of the LILT equipment.…”

The effects of gel pad thickness on the evaluation of skin structures using ultrasonography in normal dogs

“…Ultrasonography is a reliable, painless, low-risk, and consistent tool for investigating the skin, thereby allowing real-time visual characterization of its layers. The measurement of skin thickness by ultrasonography has been reported as a reproducible method in human [ 1 , 3 , 8 ] and veterinary medicine [ 4 , 7 , 16 , 17 ]. For example, in a study on humans, patients with psoriasis were shown to have a skin thickness significantly higher than that of healthy people [ 8 ].…”

“…It showed that dogs with hyperadrenocorticism and dogs treated with prednisolone had a skin thickness that was significantly lower than that of the normal group. Hence, the use of ultrasound to measure skin thickness in small dogs may provide useful clinical information to differentiate between dogs with hyperadrenocorticism and healthy dogs [ 7 ]. Furthermore, measurements of skin thickness can be potentially used to infer not only skin diseases but also general conditions.…”