Preoperative ultrasonic measurements of the thickness of cutaneous malignant melanoma.

Abstract

Preoperative measurements of the thicknesses of pigmented skin lesions by high-resolution sonography have been studied. Fourteen nevi and 15 malignant melanomas were examined and their thicknesses compared with those measured on both paraffin and frozen sections. Linear regression coefficients of r2 = 9.22 and r2 = 9.23, respectively, were found. This good correlation suggests that sonography may be of value as a guide in predicting prognosis and in determining the proper course of treatment for patients with malignant melanoma.

Assessment of Tumor Thickness in Melanocytic Skin Lesions: Comparison of Optical Coherence Tomography, 20-MHz Ultrasound and Histopathology

“…However, limitations of HFUS exist, mainly based on overestimation [4] of the true tumor thickness as a result of the presence of lymphocytic infiltrates [5], nevus remnants [6], or normal morphologic structures such as hair follicles or glands. In contrast, underestimation of the thickness can occur if single or small clusters of melanoma cells are in the reticular dermis [6], or in the case of ulceration at the surface [7]. In this context, the use of higher-frequency ultrasound devices with 100-MHz transducers may be interesting.…”

“…Driving the discussion of tumor thickness measurement of melanocytic skin lesions, the first investigations using HFUS for this purpose were published about 20 years ago [4,5,6,7]. The use of HFUS for the determination of vertical tumor thickness in cutaneous melanoma was proven for daily routine preoperative management using ultrasound devices in the range of 20–50 MHz [4,5,6,7].…”

“…The use of HFUS for the determination of vertical tumor thickness in cutaneous melanoma was proven for daily routine preoperative management using ultrasound devices in the range of 20–50 MHz [4,5,6,7]. However, limitations of HFUS exist, mainly based on overestimation [4] of the true tumor thickness as a result of the presence of lymphocytic infiltrates [5], nevus remnants [6], or normal morphologic structures such as hair follicles or glands.…”

“…Besides the clinical (naked-eye) diagnosis of pigmented lesions there are several noninvasive imaging modalities for evaluation of skin morphology available today [1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11]. Among them, high-frequency ultrasound (HFUS) working with frequencies between 20 and 50 MHz plays the main role in European countries [1,2,3,4,5,6,7]. Although melanomas as well as benign melanocytic nevi cannot be distinguished via ultrasound (both appear as solid homogenous hypoechoic lesions), prior studies have clearly indicated the usefulness of HFUS for determination of the in vivo vertical thickness, volume, and vascularity of melanocytic skin tumors [1,2,3,4].…”

High-resolution ultrasound (18-, 22 Mhz) use in the measurement of in vivo thickness of melanoma malignum

“…10 Mhz ultrahanggal már 1983-ban Shafir és mtsai, 15 esetet vizsgálva, a mért tumorvastagság és szövettani metszetben mért Breslow érték között szoros összefüg-gést írtak le, a korrelációs érték 0,92 volt (11). 2008-ban Vilana és mtsai, 54 esetben 0,93 korrelációs értéket értek el, 2010-ben Music és mtsai 12-15 Mhz ultrahanggal 70 pigmentált bôrtumort vizsgáltak (melybôl 60 volt melanoma), eredményeik alapján a korrelációs együttható 0,82 volt (1), azonban az 1mm-t elérô tumorok elkülöní-tése mindkét tanulmány esetében nagy pontossággal tör-tént (92%).…”