Test & Diagnosis

Because scleroderma can take so many forms and affect so many different areas of the body, it can be difficult to diagnose. After a thorough physical exam, your doctor may suggest blood tests to check for elevated blood levels of certain antibodies produced by the immune system.He or she may remove a small tissue sample (biopsy) of your affected skin so that it can be examined in the laboratory for abnormalities. You may also need breathing tests (pulmonary function tests), a CT scan of your lungs and an echocardiogram of your heart.