Ultrasonic manifestations of subungual exostosis / 中国医学影像技术

ABSTRACT

Objective: To observe the ultrasonic manifestations of subungual exostosis. Methods Ultrasonic data of 9 cases with pathologically confirmed subungual exostosis after excision were retrospectively analyzed. The location, echo signal, boundary, morphology, posterior echogenicity and relationship with phalanx as well as blood flow of the lesions were observed. And the size of the lesion was detected. Results Solitarly lesion located on toe was detected in 9 patients, 8 at the hallux and 1 at the fourth toe, 5 at the right foot and 4 at the left foot. All lesions appeared as linear hyperechogenic mass with clear boundary and posterior acoustic shadowing located in the hyponychium of toes, with length from 0.50 cm to 1.33 cm and the average length of (0.86±0.29)cm, all connected with the distal phalanx with no interruption of bone continuity. No blood flow was detected in the mass. The hyponychium of the toe was thickened. Two cases with ingrown nail infection and 1 case with paronychia showed increased blood flow in the hyponychium, while other 6 cases showed no abnormal blood flow in the hyponychium. Conclusion: Subungual exostosis has some specific ultrasonic characteristics, which are helpful to the diagnosis of this disease.