Effect of High-Intensity Macro-Focused Ultrasound on a Case of Morbihan Disease

Abstract

Morbihan disease is a rare entity involving the upper two-thirds of the face and characterized by chronic erythematous edema, which is recalcitrant to the traditional therapy of rosacea. We report a case of Morbihan disease effectively treated with macro-focused high-intensity focus ultrasound (MF-HIFU). After MF-HIFU treatment, an obvious reduction in swelling was observed with decreased erythema and hyperalgesia. In addition, in-vitro experiments were conducted to measure the actual temperature of the skin tissue under the epidermis. The results of the in-vitro experiments showed that the temperature plateau in the skin sample was reached at approximately 42°C after 5-min treatment or longer. MF-HIFU might be a promising energy-based therapy for Morbihan disease.

Keywords:

• erythema
• edema
• rosacea
• energy-based treatment

Ethics Approval and Informed Consent

The patient reported in this manuscript gave written informed consent to participate in this study, and for the details of her case and accompanying photographs to be published. Institutional approval is not required to publish the case details in accordance with local legislation and institutional requirements.

Acknowledgments

The authors wish to thank the patient, all participating investigators, and the study team involved in the conduct of this study.

Disclosure

The authors report no conflicts of interest in this work.