Rosa Maria SIGRIST 医师
放射科医师
其他作者: Maria Cristina Chammas, Fernando Alfageme, Claudia Gonzalez, Fernanda Cavallieri, Stella Desyatnikova, Maria Crisan, Peter Velthuis, Leonie Schelke, Orlando Catalano, Hugues Cartier, Anitha Mandava, Steve Weiner, Mobin Master, Ximena Wortsman
Consensus on Best Practice in Aesthetic Dermatologic Ultrasound
Objectives: To establish international consensus and best practice guidelines for dermatologic ultrasound (US) in aesthetic medicine. The paper addresses gaps in equipment standards, scanning techniques, nomenclature, reporting, documentation, safety, training, and ultrasound-guided procedures. The goal is to harmonize practice, improve reproducibility, and support safe clinical application and research worldwide, enhancing diagnostic accuracy and patient outcomes across specialties.
Introduction: Dermatologic ultrasound has become an essential imaging tool in aesthetic medicine, allowing precise filler identification, vascular mapping, diagnosis of complications, and ultrasound-guided interventions. Despite its rapid adoption, inconsistent protocols across specialties limit reproducibility, quality, and safety. Establishing international consensus is critical to standardize practice, define training requirements, and improve communication, ensuring patient safety and supporting future multicentric research.
Materials / method: The World Federation for Ultrasound in Medicine and Biology (WFUMB) convened 15 international experts from radiology, dermatology, and plastic surgery, selected for their clinical and academic expertise. Between 2023 and 2024, two structured questionnaires covering technical, procedural, and safety aspects were circulated. Responses were followed by virtual voting and consensus meetings. Position statements required ≥75% agreement to be accepted, and consensus was categorized as broad (75–95%) or strong (>95%). Statements below 50% agreement were excluded.
Results: A total of 24 recommendations were approved, covering safety protocols/disinfection, US scanning techniques, US techincal considerations, basic US imaging interpretation, US vascular anatomy of the face, US evaluation of complications, report ans storage recommendations, ultrasound trainning and future accreditation processes. Consensus levels were classified as strong (>95%) or broad (75–95%).These guidelines provide practical recommendations for safe application of dermatologic ultrasound in aesthetics, emphasizing reproducibility, diagnostic accuracy, patient safety, and education.
Conclusion: This WFUMB position paper delivers the first comprehensive international recommendations for dermatologic ultrasound in aesthetic medicine. By defining equipment standards, examination protocols, reporting models, safety practices, and training requirements, it establishes a framework to unify practice. The consensus aims to improve diagnostic precision, guide safe ultrasound-assisted and ultrasound-guided procedures, strengthen scientific research, and enhance patient care through standardization across multiple specialties worldwide.