The Promising Role of a Superb Microvascular Imaging Technique in the Evaluation of Raynaud’s Syndrome in Systemic Sclerosis: Theory and Practical Challenges

Abstract

In recent years, a novel Doppler ultrasonography (US) modality—superb microvascular imaging (SMI)—has been presented as a reliable method to evaluate small vessel blood flow with minimised motion artefacts. In this review, we present the challenges of incorporating SMI in daily practice with detailed and comparable US images of a fingertip. The main focus of this paper is the discussion of all tested US techniques, artefacts, and practical challenges for evaluating Raynaud’s syndrome in systemic sclerosis. Despite a few reports on SMI use in assessing nailfold capillaries, there is still a need for more evidence of its value and possibilities for its standardisation.

Keywords

• Doppler
• nailfold capillaroscopy
• superb microvascular imaging
• ultrasound