Table 1.

HFUS Overall Image Quality Rating Scale

Rating	Definition
1.0	dermis and hypodermis not evaluable due to poor image
2.0	at least 1 layer evaluable but other is not or at least 50% of both layers are evaluable*
3.0	at least 50% of both layers are evaluable; no well-defined epidermal entry echo, no defined layer margin between all 3 layers
3.1	approximated epidermal entry echo, no clearly defined layer margin between dermis and hypodermis
3.2	defined epidermal entry echo, no clearly defined layer margin between dermis and hypodermis
3.3	well-defined epidermal entry echo, no clearly defined layer margin between dermis and hypodermis
3.4	approximated epidermal entry echo, layer margin between dermis and hypodermis can be approximated
3.5	defined epidermal entry echo, layer margin between dermis and hypodermis can be approximated
3.6	defined epidermal entry echo, layer margin between dermis and hypodermis can be determined
3.7	defined epidermal entry echo, well-defined layer margin between dermis and hypodermis
3.8	well-defined epidermal entry echo, well-defined layer margin between dermis and hypodermis
3.9	very high quality image, some minor image defects on lateral areas
4.0	all of both layers are evaluable, no interfering image artifacts present, no visible image defects - essentially flawless image

^*at least 50% of the image widths of both layers are evaluable with the evaluable portions positioned over each other