Whole-Body Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Rheumatology

This review focuses on the most frequent whole-body MRI applications in patients with rheumatological pathologies, for which this tool can be helpful to both radiologists and clinicians. It reports technical aspects of the acquisition of both 1.5 and 3.0 T scanners. The article lists the main findings that help radiologists during the evaluation of a specific pathology, both in the diagnostic phase and during follow-up.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Assessment and Management of Post-injection-Site Morphea

Morphea, a form of localized scleroderma, can significantly affect individuals by causing skin tightening and discoloration. We describe the case of a 22-year-old woman who presented with progressive skin changes and discomfort in her right gluteal region following a history of an intramuscular injection in the right gluteal region. Clinical examination suggested morphea, prompting us to conduct an MRI to better understand the extent and nature of her condition. The MRI results revealed thickening of the skin layers and signs of inflammation, helping us differentiate between active inflammation and fibrosis. This case illustrates how MRI can provide crucial insights for managing morphea effectively.

S2k guideline: Diagnosis and therapy of localized scleroderma

The updated S2k guideline deals with the diagnosis and therapy of localized scleroderma (LoS). LoS represents a spectrum of sclerotic skin diseases in which, depending on the subtype and localisation, structures such as adipose tissue, muscles, joints, and bones may also be affected. Involvement of internal organs or progression to systemic sclerosis does not occur. LoS can be classified into four main forms: limited, generalized, linear, and mixed forms, with some additional subtypes. For cases of limited skin involvement, the guideline primarily recommends therapy with topical corticosteroids. UV therapy can also be recommended. In subtypes with severe skin or musculoskeletal involvement, systemic therapy with methotrexate is recommended. During the active phase of the disease, systemic glucocorticosteroids can be used additionally. In cases of methotrexate and steroid refractory courses, contraindications, or intolerance, mycophenolate mofetil, mycophenolic acid, or abatacept can be considered as second-line systemic therapies. In the case of linear LoS, autologous adipose-derived stem cell transplantation can also be performed for correcting soft tissue defects.

S2k‐Leitlinie: Diagnostik und Therapie der zirkumskripten Sklerodermie

Die vorliegende aktualisierte S2k‐Leitlinie befasst sich mit der Diagnostik und der Therapie der zirkumskripten Sklerodermie (ZS). Diese umfasst ein Spektrum sklerotischer Erkrankungen der Haut mit, je nach Subtyp und Lokalisation, möglicher Beteiligung von hautnahen Strukturen wie Fettgewebe, Muskulatur, Gelenke und Knochen. Ein Befall innerer Organe oder ein Übergang in eine systemische Sklerodermie treten nicht auf. Eingeteilt werden kann die ZS in die vier Hauptformen der limitierten, generalisierten, linearen und gemischten Form. Teilweise existieren weitere Unterformen. Bei limitiertem Hautbefall empfiehlt die Leitlinie primär eine Therapie mit topischen Kortikosteroiden. Eine UV‐Therapie kann ebenfalls sinnvoll sein. Bei Subtypen mit schwerem Hautbefall oder muskuloskelettalem Befall wird eine systemische Therapie mit Methotrexat empfohlen. In der aktiven Phase der Erkrankung können ergänzend systemische Glukokortikosteroide eingesetzt werden. Bei MTX‐ und Steroid‐refraktären Verläufen, Kontraindikation oder Unverträglichkeit sollten Mycophenolat‐Mofetil, Mycophenolsäure oder Abatacept als Systemtherapie der zweiten Wahl eingesetzt werden. Bei einer linearen ZS kann zudem eine autologe Fettstammzelltransplantation zur Korrektur von Weichteildefekten erfolgen.

Role of imaging in morphea assessment: A review of the literature

BACKGROUND

Localized scleroderma, known as morphea, is a connective tissue disorder characterized by inflammation and fibrosis of the skin and the soft tissue. There exist no universally accepted validated outcome measures in order to monitor the disease activity. Besides clinical scores to evaluate outcome measures, imaging modalities are increasingly utilized in assessing patients with morphea, such as high-frequency ultrasonography (US), shear-wave elastography (SWE), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). However, the accuracy of these imaging modalities in monitoring morphea activity is not yet clear.

AIMS

To review the literature regarding the role of imaging modalities in assessing patients with morphea.

MATERIALS & METHODS

In this study, we searched the PubMed/Medline database for articles published from inception until February 2023.

RESULTS

A total number of 23 original articles in three categories of US, elastography, and MRI were included.

DISCUSSION

Regarding US, criteria, including increased dermal thickness, increased echogenicity of the subcutaneous tissue, and decreased dermal echogenicity, were indicators of active morphea lesions when using high frequencies probe (18-20 MHz) color Doppler sonography. Moreover, studies evaluating SWE, a novel method to quantitatively assess tissue stiffness, demonstrated increased dermal stiffness in active lesions.

CONCLUSION

Studies showed that MRI can help to determine the depth of disease, particularly as a first-line and follow-up diagnostic tool, especially in generalized and deep morphea. In addition, brain MRI may be useful for patients with localized craniofacial scleroderma experiencing new or worsening neurological symptoms.

An Evaluation of the Performance of Current Morphea Subtype Classifications

Importance

Numerous classification systems for morphea subtypes exist, but none have been systematically evaluated for their ability to categorize patients with morphea into demographically and clinically coherent groups. Although some subtypes, such as linear morphea, are present across all the classification schemes, others list unique subtypes. This creates confusion among investigators and practitioners and impairs accurate categorization of patients for study and clinical evaluation.

Objective

To evaluate how frequently the commonly used morphea classification systems categorize patients with morphea into clinically relevant subtypes using cross-sectional analysis of 2 large patient cohorts.

Design, Setting, and Participants

This cross-sectional study comprised 944 adults and children from 2 prospective cohorts-the Morphea in Adults and Children at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center (Dallas, Texas), which enrolled participants from July 20, 2007, to September 21, 2018, and the National Registry for Childhood-Onset Scleroderma at the University of Pittsburgh (Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania), which enrolled participants from October 23, 2002, to November 13, 2018.

Main Outcomes and Measures

Patient demographic characteristics, morphea subtype, quality-of-life measures, disease activity, and damage as measured by Localized Scleroderma Cutaneous Assessment Tool scores during initial visits.

Results

A total of 944 participants (444 patients with adult-onset morphea and 500 patients with pediatric-onset morphea; 741 female participants [78%]; median age at onset, 16 years [interquartile range, 8-44 years]) were included in this study. Most participants were White (723 [77%]) and had the linear (474 [50%]) or generalized subtype of morphea (244 [26%]). With the use of the previously published Padua criteria, most patients were classified to have linear morphea (474 [50%]), followed by generalized morphea (244 [26%]), plaque morphea (141 [15%]), mixed morphea (38 [4%]), and pansclerotic morphea (3 [0.3%]). Overall, the Padua criteria successfully classified 900 patients (95%) in comparison with the Peterson criteria (533 [56%]) and the European Dermatology Forum classification (487 [52%]).

Conclusions and Relevance

In this cross-sectional study of morphea subtype classification systems, the Padua criteria performed best in classifying patients into subgroups with cohesive demographic and clinical features, supporting its widespread use. However, they have ambiguities that might lead to misclassification, particularly in terms of generalized and pansclerotic morphea and descriptors such as morphea profunda. Consensus-based approaches are needed to address these ambiguities and develop a unified classification scheme.

On which evidence can we rely when prescribing off-label methotrexate in dermatological practice? - a systematic review with GRADE approach

If an authorized drug is prescribed for a use that is not described in the Summary of Product Characteristics, this is defined as 'off-label use.' Methotrexate is often used off-label for dermatological indications. Off-label use is permitted if physicians can justify the treatment based on scientific evidence available to them. Our objective here was therefore to summarize the evidence for the effectiveness, efficacy, and safety of the dermatological off-label use of methotrexate in a systematic review. We searched MEDLINE, EMBASE, and CENTRAL for studies for evidence on the effectiveness, efficacy, and safety of the off-label use of methotrexate in dermatological indications up to November 2019. We used the GRADE system to rate the quality of the evidence. The search retrieved 34,583 hits of which 3566 were selected after the title and abstract screening. After the full-text screening, 143 studies were included, which involved 3688 patients in total. We found low-quality evidence for the effectiveness, efficacy, and safety of the off-label use of methotrexate in 31 dermatological diseases. To optimize the quality of evidence to support off-label use, we need high-quality studies in which well-characterized patients are treated with standardized treatments regimens using well-validated outcomes relevant to patients and physicians.

Morphea: progress to date and the road ahead

Morphea is a rare autoimmune condition causing inflammation and sclerosis of the skin and underlying soft tissue. It is characterized by periods of activity (inflammation admixed with fibrosis), ultimately resulting in permanent damage (pigment change and tissue loss). Damage resulting from unchecked activity can lead to devastating, permanent cosmetic and functional sequelae including hair loss; cutaneous, soft tissue and bony atrophy; joint contractures; and growth restriction of the affected body site in children. This makes the early identification of activity and initiation of appropriate treatment crucial to limiting damage in morphea. To this end, recent investigative work has focused on validation of clinical, biomarker, imaging, and histologic outcomes aimed at accurately quantifying activity and damage. Despite promising results, further work is needed to better validate these measures before they can be used in the clinic and research settings. Although there has been recent approval of less toxic, targeted therapies for many inflammatory skin conditions, none have been systematically investigated in morphea. The mainstays of treatment for active morphea are corticosteroids and methotrexate. These are often limited by substantial toxicity. The paucity of new treatments for morphea is the result of a lack of studies examining its pathogenesis, with many reviews extrapolating from research in systemic sclerosis. Recent studies have demonstrated the role of dysregulated immune and fibrotic pathways in the pathogenesis of morphea, particularly interferon (IFN) gamma related pathways. Active morphea lesions have been found to display an inflammatory morphea signature with CXCR3 receptor ligands, as well as a distinct fibrotic signature reflecting fibroblast activation and collagen production. CXCL9 and 10 have been associated with increased measures of disease activity. While immune dysfunction is thought to play the primary role in morphea pathogenesis, there are other factors that may also contribute, including genetic predisposition, environmental factors, and vascular dysregulation. There remains an essential need for further research to elucidate the pathogenesis of morphea and the mode of action of dysregulated upstream and downstream immune and fibrotic pathways. These studies will allow for the discovery of novel biomarkers and targets for therapeutic development.

Feasibility of Using Elastography Ultrasound in Pediatric Localized Scleroderma (Morphea)

Assessment and monitoring of inflammation and tissue damage is crucial in localized scleroderma (LS), but validated diagnostic tools are lacking. We aimed to determine the feasibility of using acoustic radiation force imaging ultrasound elastography in the assessment of pediatric-onset LS lesions. Conventional ultrasound and shear-wave elastography (SWE) imaging were used to characterize changes in pre-assigned LS lesions in 13 prospectively recruited participants. Contralateral sites were used as controls. Mean SWE values were compared. LS lesions were significantly stiffer than control sites in the dermis and the hypodermis using both parametric and non-parametric tests, before and after skin-thickness normalization. We show that SWE imaging is a feasible way to discriminate between normal skin and LS lesions in the pediatric population.

Linear Morphea With Inflammatory Myositis

Morphea is an autoimmune disorder characterized by sclerosis and inflammation of the skin and soft tissues. Early diagnosis and treatment are essential to minimize morbidity such as joint contracture. In this report, we present the case of a 19-year-old man with linear morphea with inflammatory myositis who presented to our clinic 1 year after symptom onset with severe elbow flexion contracture. Through reviewing this rare disorder, it is hoped that early diagnosis will lead to better outcomes in the future.

Connective Tissue Disorders in Childhood: Are They All the Same?

Systemic connective tissue disorders are characterized by the presence of autoantibodies and multiorgan system involvement. Juvenile systemic lupus erythematosus with or without associated antiphospholipid syndrome; juvenile dermatomyositis; sclerodermiform syndromes, including systemic and localized sclerodermas and eosinophilic fasciitis; mixed connective tissue disease; and Sjögren syndrome are the disorders that affect children most frequently. Diagnosis is difficult, because the clinical presentation of patients is diverse, from mild to severe disease. In addition, all organs may be affected. However, a variety of imaging techniques are now available to investigate rheumatic disease in children. These imaging modalities offer the potential for earlier diagnosis and improved assessment of therapeutic response. This article reviews the main connective tissue disorders that affect children, highlighting their key imaging features on images acquired with different diagnostic imaging modalities and correlating these features with clinical and pathologic findings, when available. ^©RSNA, 2019.

Sarcopenia in juvenile localized scleroderma: new insights on deep involvement

OBJECTIVES

Juvenile localized scleroderma (JLS) is a rare chronic autoimmune disease which can also affect bones and muscles. Nevertheless, muscle loss was not previously investigated in patients with JLS. Thus, the aim of this study was to retrospectively evaluate deep involvement and assess and quantify sarcopenia in JLS patients using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

METHODS

Fourteen children with JLS (nine females, mean age ± SD, 7.1 ± 3.6 years) referring to our tertiary center from January 2012 to January 2018 who underwent at least one MRI examination including axial T1-weighted and short tau inversion recovery images were included. Two readers assessed in consensus superficial and deep involvement. Muscle edema, muscle fatty infiltration, and sarcopenia were independently scored (absent, moderate, or severe) and the Cohen's kappa coefficient computed. Skin perimeter, subcutaneous area, muscle area, and muscle volume were independently measured using the contralateral unaffected extremity as reference (paired Student's t test, p < 0.05). The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was used to investigate the reliability of the measurements.

RESULTS

All patients showed superficial involvement with subcutaneous fat atrophy being the most common finding (13 patients). Bone marrow edema occurred in five patients. Muscle edema affected ten children (moderate in seven, severe in three; k = 0.89), muscle fatty replacement occurred in one case (severe; k = 1.00), and sarcopenia was detected in eight patients (severe in two; k = 0.78). All quantitative parameters were lower on the affected side than on the unaffected contralateral limb (p < 0.05, each) and all measurements showed a high reliability (ICC > 0.750, each).

CONCLUSION

Patients with JLS can be affected by sarcopenia and quantitative analyses allow a robust characterization of such finding.

KEY POINTS

• Deep involvement in juvenile localized scleroderma is frequently characterized by sarcopenia. • In juvenile localized scleroderma, muscle edema and sarcopenia are mostly moderate while fatty infiltration, even if rare, can be severe. • Sarcopenia can be reliably quantified in children with juvenile localized scleroderma using MRI.

Overview of Juvenile localized scleroderma and its management

BACKGROUND

Juvenile localized scleroderma (JLS) is a rare pediatric disease characterized by inflammation and skin thickening. JLS is associated with deep tissue and extracutaneous involvement that often results in functional impairment and growth disturbances. This article provides an overview of the disease with a focus on active features and treatment.

DATA SOURCES

We searched databases including PubMed, Elsevier and MedLine and Wanfang, reviewing publications from 2013 to 2019. Selected earlier publications were also reviewed.

RESULTS

Linear scleroderma is the most common JLS subtype. Several lines of evidence suggest that JLS is an autoimmune disease. Extracutaneous involvement is common and can present before the onset of skin disease. Multiple skin features are associated with disease activity, and activity can also manifest as arthritis, myositis, uveitis, seizures, and growth impairment. Systemic immunosuppressive treatment, commonly methotrexate with or without glucocorticoids, greatly improves outcome and is recommended for treating JLS patients with active disease and moderate or higher severity. Long term monitoring is needed because of the disease's chronicity and the high frequency of relapses off of treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

JLS is associated with a risk for disabling and disfiguring morbidity for the growing child. Identifying active disease is important for guiding treatment, but often difficult because of the paucity of markers and lack of a universal skin activity feature. More studies of JLS pathophysiology are needed to allow the identification of biomarkers and therapeutic targets. Comparative effectiveness treatment studies are also needed to work towards optimizing care and outcome.

Consensus-based recommendations for the management of juvenile localised scleroderma

In 2012, a European initiative called Single Hub and Access point for paediatric Rheumatology in Europe (SHARE) was launched to optimise and disseminate diagnostic and management regimens in Europe for children and young adults with rheumatic diseases. Juvenile localised scleroderma (JLS) is a rare disease within the group of paediatric rheumatic diseases (PRD) and can lead to significant morbidity. Evidence-based guidelines are sparse and management is mostly based on physicians' experience. This study aims to provide recommendations for assessment and treatment of JLS. Recommendations were developed by an evidence-informed consensus process using the European League Against Rheumatism standard operating procedures. A committee was formed, mainly from Europe, and consisted of 15 experienced paediatric rheumatologists and two young fellows. Recommendations derived from a validated systematic literature review were evaluated by an online survey and subsequently discussed at two consensus meetings using a nominal group technique. Recommendations were accepted if ≥80% agreement was reached. In total, 1 overarching principle, 10 recommendations on assessment and 6 recommendations on therapy were accepted with ≥80% agreement among experts. Topics covered include assessment of skin and extracutaneous involvement and suggested treatment pathways. The SHARE initiative aims to identify best practices for treatment of patients suffering from PRDs. Within this remit, recommendations for the assessment and treatment of JLS have been formulated by an evidence-informed consensus process to produce a standard of care for patients with JLS throughout Europe.

Autoantibodies in Morphea: An Update

Skin autoimmune conditions belong to a larger group of connective tissue diseases and primarily affect the skin, but might also involve underlying tissues, such as fat tissue, muscle, and bone. Autoimmune antibodies (autoantibodies) play a role in autoimmune skin diseases, such as localized scleroderma also termed morphea, and systemic scleroderma, also called systemic sclerosis (SSc). The detailed studies on the biological role of autoantibodies in autoimmune skin diseases are limited. This results in a few available tools for effective diagnosis and management of autoimmune skin diseases. This review aims to provide an update on the detection and most recent research on autoantibodies in morphea. Several recent studies have indicated the association of autoantibody profiles with disease subtypes, damage extent, and relapse potential, opening up exciting new possibilities for personalized disease management. We discuss the role of existing autoantibody tests in morphea management and the most recent studies on morphea pathogenesis. We also provide an update on novel autoantibody biomarkers for the diagnosis and study of morphea.

Magnetic Resonance Imaging Evaluation in Patients with Linear Morphea Treated with Methotrexate and High-Dose Corticosteroid

Background

Morphea is an inflammatory disease of the connective tissue that may lead to thickening and hardening of the skin due to fibrosis. The aim of this study was to document magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) changes in patients with linear morphea who were treated with methotrexate (MTX) and high-dose corticosteroid.

Methods

This study was conducted on 33 patients from the outpatient's dermatology clinic of our institute, who fulfilled the inclusion criteria. Patients received 15 mg/week of MTX and monthly pulses of methylprednisolone for three days in six months. The effectiveness of the treatment was evaluated by MRI, modified LS skin severity index (mLoSSI), and localized scleroderma damage index (LoSDI).

Results

All parameters of mLoSSI and LoSDI including erythema, skin thickness, new lesion/lesion extension, dermal atrophy, subcutaneous atrophy, and dyspigmentation were also noticeably improved after treatment. Subcutaneous fat enhancement was the most common finding in MRI. MRI scores were significantly associated with clinical markers both before and after the treatment with the exception of skin thickness and new lesion/lesion extension which were not associated with MRI scores before and after the treatment, respectively.

Limitations

The lack of correlative laboratory disease activity markers, control group, and clearly defined criteria to judge the MRI changes.

Conclusion

MRI could be a promising tool for the assessment of musculoskeletal and dermal involvement and also monitoring treatment response in patients with morphea.

Reliability of LoSCAT score for activity and tissue damage assessment in a large cohort of patients with Juvenile Localized Scleroderma

OBJECTIVES

To assess reliability of the two indexes of Localized Scleroderma Cutaneous Assessment Tool (LoSCAT), the modified Localized Scleroderma Skin Severity Index (mLoSSI) and the Localized Scleroderma Skin Damage Index (LoSDI), when applied by clinicians with different experience in scoring and managing patients with JLS. Secondary aim was to compare LoSCAT and infrared thermography (IRT) in monitoring lesions over time.

METHODS

Consecutive children with Juvenile Localized Scleroderma (JLS) were blindly evaluated by three examiners with different experience in Paediatric Rheumatology and with no experience in LoSCAT use. At each visit, patients were assessed by LoSCAT and IRT. Sensitivity to change of LoSCAT and IRT was assessed in a group of patients 3-6 months later. Inter-rater reliability was assessed by Intraclass Correlation Coefficient (ICC) and variance analysis (ANOVA).

FINDINGS

Forty-seven patients (129 lesions) entered the study, and 26 (79 lesions) were re-evaluated with same modality after 4.5 (SD 1.5) months. mLoSSI showed excellent inter-rater reliability expressed by ICC 0.965 confirmed by ANOVA. Similarly, inter-rater reliability for LoSDI was good (ICC = 0.774) but worse concordance among examiners was observed. A comparable improvement of mLoSSI in all anatomic sites was noted by all examiners in 79 lesions examined in two subsequent visits and was consistent with thermography.

CONCLUSIONS

Different clinical experience in JLS did not influence clinical judgement in mLoSSI which showed excellent concordance, whereas LoSDI is less precise in damage assessment and not completely reliable in monitoring skin changes. Infrared thermography confirms to be a helpful tool for detecting disease activity and reliable in monitoring lesions over time.

Clinical Usefulness of Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Four Children With Scleroderma

Children with localized scleroderma may have more serious sequelae than adults with the disease. In this case report, we analyzed four girls with localized scleroderma (generalized morphea) to evaluate the clinical usefulness of magnetic resonance imaging in facilitating disease control and investigating patient responsiveness to various treatments. Two of the children had flexion contracture, and two displayed a clear high-intensity area in the bone marrow under the sclerotic skin on magnetic resonance imaging. Two girls had different bilateral circumferences of the legs or forearms. These abnormalities were detected without any obvious changes in blood chemistry. Our results demonstrated that magnetic resonance imaging is useful for the evaluation of treatment effects for localized scleroderma in children.

Morphea and Eosinophilic Fasciitis: An Update

Morphea, also known as localized scleroderma, encompasses a group of idiopathic sclerotic skin diseases. The spectrum ranges from relatively mild phenotypes, which generally cause few problems besides local discomfort and visible disfigurement, to subtypes with severe complications such as joint contractures and limb length discrepancies. Eosinophilic fasciitis (EF, Shulman syndrome) is often regarded as belonging to the severe end of the morphea spectrum. The exact driving mechanisms behind morphea and EF pathogenesis remain to be elucidated. However, extensive extracellular matrix formation and autoimmune dysfunction are thought to be key pathogenic processes. Likewise, these processes are considered essential in systemic sclerosis (SSc) pathogenesis. In addition, similarities in clinical presentation between morphea and SSc have led to many theories about their relatedness. Importantly, morphea may be differentiated from SSc based on absence of sclerodactyly, Raynaud’s phenomenon, and nailfold capillary changes. The diagnosis of morphea is often based on characteristic clinical findings. Histopathological evaluation of skin biopsies and laboratory tests are not necessary in the majority of morphea cases. However, full-thickness skin biopsies, containing fascia and muscle tissue, are required for the diagnosis of EF. Monitoring of disease activity and damage, especially of subcutaneous involvement, is one of the most challenging aspects of morphea care. Therefore, data harmonization is crucial for optimizing standard care and for comparability of study results. Recently, the localized scleroderma cutaneous assessment tool (LoSCAT) has been developed and validated for morphea. The LoSCAT is currently the most widely reported outcome measure for morphea. Care providers should take disease subtype, degree of activity, depth of involvement, and quality-of-life impairments into account when initiating treatment. In most patients with circumscribed superficial subtypes, treatment with topical therapies suffices. In more widespread disease, UVA1 phototherapy or systemic treatment with methotrexate (MTX), with or without a systemic corticosteroid combination, should be initiated. Disappointingly, few alternatives for MTX have been described and additional research is still needed to optimize treatment for these debilitating conditions. In this review, we present a state-of-the-art flow chart that guides care providers in the treatment of morphea and EF.

Musculoskeletal MRI findings of juvenile localized scleroderma

BACKGROUND

Juvenile localized scleroderma comprises a group of autoimmune conditions often characterized clinically by an area of skin hardening. In addition to superficial changes in the skin and subcutaneous tissues, juvenile localized scleroderma may involve the deep soft tissues, bones and joints, possibly resulting in functional impairment and pain in addition to cosmetic changes.

OBJECTIVE

There is literature documenting the spectrum of findings for deep involvement of localized scleroderma (fascia, muscles, tendons, bones and joints) in adults, but there is limited literature for the condition in children. We aimed to document the spectrum of musculoskeletal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings of both superficial and deep juvenile localized scleroderma involvement in children and to evaluate the utility of various MRI sequences for detecting those findings.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Two radiologists retrospectively evaluated 20 MRI studies of the extremities in 14 children with juvenile localized scleroderma. Each imaging sequence was also given a subjective score of 0 (not useful), 1 (somewhat useful) or 2 (most useful for detecting the findings).

RESULTS

Deep tissue involvement was detected in 65% of the imaged extremities. Fascial thickening and enhancement were seen in 50% of imaged extremities. Axial T1, axial T1 fat-suppressed (FS) contrast-enhanced and axial fluid-sensitive sequences were rated most useful.

CONCLUSION

Fascial thickening and enhancement were the most commonly encountered deep tissue findings in extremity MRIs of children with juvenile localized scleroderma. Because abnormalities of the skin, subcutaneous tissues and fascia tend to run longitudinally in an affected limb, axial T1, axial fluid-sensitive and axial T1-FS contrast-enhanced sequences should be included in the imaging protocol.

A systematic review of tools for determining activity of localized scleroderma in paediatric and adult patients

Localized scleroderma (LoS) is a rare inflammatory skin disorder that affects the dermis and sometimes subcutaneous tissues. LoS can have very long periods of quiescence followed by reactivation, but the progression or activity of the disease is difficult to measure. To review the measuring tools used for the evaluation of LoS activity, to choose the most appropriate technique to facilitate progress towards properly assessing the disease, a systematic review of the literature was carried out using the PubMed MEDLINE. Sixty-three studies describing groups of children, adults or both were reviewed and included in the analysis. Case reports were excluded. The analysed papers were published between June 1986 and February 2016. Data were extracted with a focus on instruments measuring the clinical signs of LoS, health-related quality of life (HRQoL), laboratory tests and imaging techniques. Perusal of the literature confirmed that clinical characteristics of the lesions were used to identify activity and scoring systems that focused on a series of signs, and were initially validated in cases of childhood-onset disease; however, there were no data concerning the adult-onset form of the disease. Adult patients with LoS scored lower on HDLQI than those with paediatric-onset LoS. No validated biological markers were available as correlative laboratory parameters of LoS activity. For infrared thermography, ultrasound and other imaging techniques, the features of active lesions were described, but were only useful with appropriate clinical correlation. Measuring tools have not been prospectively validated yet. Summarizing, scoring methods seem to provide the most adequate assessment of LoS and deserve to be further investigated. Combined imaging techniques create optimal conditions for the proper interpretation of the temperature at the skin surface, as well as the structure and vascularity of LoS lesions. Additional scores, musculoskeletal or neuroimaging techniques and laboratory parameters are needed for the specific disease subtypes to monitor extracutaneous manifestations.

Updates on morphea: role of vascular injury and advances in treatment

Morphea and systemic sclerosis are fibrosing disorders of the skin that share common inflammatory and immunologic pathways that are responsible for the vascular changes, increased collagen production, and extracellular matrix proliferation seen in both conditions. Recent advances in molecular biology techniques have furthered our knowledge of the potential underlying pathogenic mechanisms and offer new and provocative areas of research for novel diagnostic and therapeutic interventions. This review focuses on the role of vascular injury in the development of morphea, the use of ultrasonography as a diagnostic modality, and well-established and newly proposed treatments.