The usefulness of high-frequency ultrasonography in the evaluation of vulvar dermatoses in postmenopausal women – a preliminary report

Abstract

Abstract Introduction The vulva is an external female genital organ with complex anatomy and histology. In postmenopausal women, this region is at particular risk of different types of conditions known as dermatoses. Materials and methods We assessed benign vulvar skin lesions using high-frequency 48 MHz ultrasound transducer (DermaView) prior to biopsy or excision. We compared ultrasonographic images with histology. Results We assessed benign vulvar lesions such as folliculitis, condylomata acuminatum, lichen sclerosus and vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia. We presented typical high-frequency images of these pathologies and compared them with histological images. Conclusion Our preliminary study confirms that high-frequency ultrasonography is a useful tool in the assessment of vulvar pathologies, especially before surgical excision. A precise visualization of certain pathologies like folliculitis, lichen sclerosus, condylomata and vulvar intraepithelial neoplasia is possible.