Scleroderma other imaging findings

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]; Associate Editor(s)-in-Chief: M. Khurram Afzal, MD [2]

Overview

Nail-fold video capillaroscopy (NVC) may be helpful in the diagnosis of scleroderma. Findings on nail-fold video capillaroscopy diagnostic of raynaud’s phenomenon (RP) and scleroderma microangiopathy include nail-fold capillary abnormalities, capillary dilatation, and capillary loop drop-out. Findings on nail-fold video capillaroscopy diagnostic of scleroderma microangiopathy are graded into 3 phases; early, active and late.

Other Imaging Findings

Nail-fold capillaroscopy may be helpful in the diagnosis of scleroderma. Findings on nail-fold capillaroscopy diagnostic of raynaud’s phenomenon (RP) include:^[1]^[2]
- Nail-fold capillary abnormalities
- Capillary dilatation
- Capillary loop drop-out
Nail-fold capillaroscopy:
- Non-invasive technique that facilitates in vivo assessment of cutaneous microvasculature and microvascular damage in scleroderma patients
Findings on nail-fold video capillaroscopy diagnostic of scleroderma microangiopathy are graded into 3 phases:^[3]^[4]^[5]
- Early:
  - Giant capillaries
  - Hemorrhages
    - These findings facilitate early diagnosis of scleroderma and facilitate differentiation between primary and secondary RP
- Active:
  - The microangiopathy changes in the early phase are more evident in the active phase
- Late:
  - Severe loss of capillaries
  - Vascular architectural disorganization
  - Presence of ramified or bushy capillaries

References

↑ Cutolo M, Grassi W, Matucci Cerinic M (November 2003). “Raynaud’s phenomenon and the role of capillaroscopy”. Arthritis Rheum. 48 (11): 3023–30. doi:10.1002/art.11310. PMID 14613262.
↑ Cutolo M, Sulli A, Smith V (April 2013). “How to perform and interpret capillaroscopy”. Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol. 27 (2): 237–48. doi:10.1016/j.berh.2013.03.001. PMID 23731933.
↑ Cutolo M, Sulli A, Pizzorni C, Accardo S (January 2000). “Nailfold videocapillaroscopy assessment of microvascular damage in systemic sclerosis”. J. Rheumatol. 27 (1): 155–60. PMID 10648032.
↑ Cutolo M, Matucci Cerinic M (2007). “Nailfold capillaroscopy and classification criteria for systemic sclerosis”. Clin. Exp. Rheumatol. 25 (5): 663–5. PMID 18078610.
↑ Sulli A, Secchi ME, Pizzorni C, Cutolo M (June 2008). “Scoring the nailfold microvascular changes during the capillaroscopic analysis in systemic sclerosis patients”. Ann. Rheum. Dis. 67 (6): 885–7. doi:10.1136/ard.2007.079756. PMID 18037628.

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[pmid14613262-1] Cutolo M, Grassi W, Matucci Cerinic M (November 2003). “Raynaud’s phenomenon and the role of capillaroscopy”. Arthritis Rheum. 48 (11): 3023–30. doi:10.1002/art.11310. PMID 14613262.

[pmid23731933-2] Cutolo M, Sulli A, Smith V (April 2013). “How to perform and interpret capillaroscopy”. Best Pract Res Clin Rheumatol. 27 (2): 237–48. doi:10.1016/j.berh.2013.03.001. PMID 23731933.

[pmid10648032-3] Cutolo M, Sulli A, Pizzorni C, Accardo S (January 2000). “Nailfold videocapillaroscopy assessment of microvascular damage in systemic sclerosis”. J. Rheumatol. 27 (1): 155–60. PMID 10648032.

[pmid18078610-4] Cutolo M, Matucci Cerinic M (2007). “Nailfold capillaroscopy and classification criteria for systemic sclerosis”. Clin. Exp. Rheumatol. 25 (5): 663–5. PMID 18078610.

[pmid18037628-5] Sulli A, Secchi ME, Pizzorni C, Cutolo M (June 2008). “Scoring the nailfold microvascular changes during the capillaroscopic analysis in systemic sclerosis patients”. Ann. Rheum. Dis. 67 (6): 885–7. doi:10.1136/ard.2007.079756. PMID 18037628.

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Scleroderma other imaging findings

Overview

Other Imaging Findings

References

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