目的:皮肤僵硬综合征(SSS)是一种罕见的疾病,其特征是影响身体不同部位的“坚硬”皮肤硬化。局部变异构成了诊断挑战,因为它经常被误认为是其他炎性结缔组织疾病。这项研究的目的是提供有洞察力的临床,可能证明对评估有用的放射学和诊断数据,小儿节段性SS患者的管理和治疗。
方法:这项单中心队列研究包括1988年至2021年在多伦多四级儿科医疗中心诊断为局部SSS的≤18岁的患者,加拿大。数据包括人口统计,临床,组织病理学和放射学特征,治疗,和临床课程。数据用描述性统计(平均值,标准偏差,中位数,四分位数间距[IQRs])和频率。
结果:共纳入11例患者。在临床和放射学上测量了硬化的变化,共16项影像学研究:13项磁共振成像(MRI)和3项超声检查。MRI读数显示所有病例中与受累解剖部位相关的受累组织的异常高信号强度,具体来说,在肩部/骨盆带与肢体延伸。与对照部位相比,剪切波超声弹性成像(SWE)在真皮内显示出更高的值。
结论:节段性硬化改变的存在,影响骨盆/肩带延伸至四肢,在活检中没有炎症和影像学上异常的信号传导强度提示SSS。皮肤SWE是可行的,非侵入性,和客观的工具来评估和监测随时间的硬化变化,它可能被推断为其他儿科皮肤硬化疾病。
OBJECTIVE: Stiff skin syndrome (SSS) is a rare disorder characterized by \"rock hard\" indurated skin affecting different body parts. The localized variant poses a diagnostic challenge, as it is frequently mistaken for other inflammatory connective tissue disorders. The aim of this
study is to provide insightful clinical, radiologic and diagnostic data that might prove useful for the evaluation, management and treatment of pediatric patients with segmental SS.
METHODS: This single-center cohort
study included patients ≤18 years diagnosed with localized SSS from 1988 to 2021 in a quaternary pediatric healthcare center in Toronto, Canada. Data included demographics, clinical, histopathologic and radiologic features, treatments, and clinical course. Data were summarized with descriptive statistics (mean, standard deviation, medians, interquartile ranges [IQRs]) and frequencies.
RESULTS: A total of 11 patients were included. The sclerotic changes were measured clinically and radiologically, by a total of 16 imaging studies: 13 magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and 3 ultrasound. MRI readings showed abnormal high signal intensity of the affected tissue correlating with the anatomical site of involvement in all cases, specifically, in the shoulder/pelvic girdle with limb extension. Shear wave ultrasound elastography (SWE) demonstrated higher values within the dermis compared to the control site.
CONCLUSIONS: The presence of segmental sclerotic changes that affects the pelvic/shoulder girdle with extension to the extremities, in the absence of inflammation on biopsy and abnormal signaling intensity on imaging is suggestive of SSS. Skin SWE is a feasible, noninvasive, and objective instrument to evaluate and monitor sclerotic changes overtime, it could be potentially extrapolated to other pediatric skin sclerotic conditions.