High-Frequency Ultrasound Applications in Dermatology
Summary
High-frequency ultrasound (HFUS) has emerged as a vital non-invasive technique in dermatology, enabling clinicians to visualise skin architecture from the epidermis to the deep fascia with exceptional spatial resolution. By employing transducers operating at frequencies above 10 MHz, HFUS delineates subtle variations in tissue composition, vascularity and lesion margins that are often imperceptible on clinical examination. Its real-time imaging capability supports the diagnosis and management of a wide range of conditions, including cutaneous neoplasms, inflammatory dermatoses and postoperative monitoring. HFUS also guides minimally invasive procedures, optimises biopsy site selection and informs surgical margins, thereby reducing patient morbidity. Advances in handheld devices, artificial intelligence–assisted interpretation and multimodal integration with optical imaging have further extended its utility beyond specialist centres. Globally deployed in both high-resource and resource-limited settings, HFUS contributes to earlier detection of skin cancer, more precise assessment of chronic inflammatory disorders and improved outcomes in cosmetic and reconstructive interventions.
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High-Frequency Ultrasound Applications in Dermatology publication trend
The graph below shows the total number of articles in high-frequency ultrasound applications in dermatology across all publications each year (not limited to Nature Index journals).
Technical terms
High-frequency ultrasound (HFUS): Ultrasound using frequencies ≥10 MHz to visualise superficial skin structures with high resolution.
Echogenicity: The capacity of tissues to reflect ultrasound waves, determining relative brightness on an image.
Doppler ultrasound: A technique that detects and displays the movement of blood within vessels via frequency shifts of reflected sound waves.
Elastography: An ultrasound-based method for assessing tissue stiffness by measuring deformation under mechanical stress.
B-mode imaging: Two-dimensional ultrasound representation in which the intensity of reflected echoes is displayed as varying shades of grey.
References
- High-frequency ultrasound in clinical dermatology: a review. The Ultrasound Journal (2021).
- Ultrasonographic Assessment of Depth Infiltration in Melanoma and Non‐melanoma Skin Cancer. Journal of Ultrasound in Medicine (2023).
- Preliminary Clinical Experience with a Novel Optical–Ultrasound Imaging Device on Various Skin Lesions. Diagnostics (2022).
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