Role of ultra-high-frequency ultrasound in the diagnosis and management of basal cell carcinoma: pilot study based on 117 cases

Abstract

Background Ultrasound imaging has recently benefited from the introduction of a new 70 MHz transducer able to provide high-resolution images, i.e.: ultra-high-frequency ultrasound (UHFUS). Objectives To study the morphological features of Basal Cell Carcinoma (BCC) and measure BCC thickness by means of UHFUS examination. Methods This retrospective multicentric study included 171 consecutive patients that underwent UHFUS examination between November 2018 and May 2019 for suspeted BCC. Diagnosis was confirmed by histopathology. A series of morphologic parameters including echogenicity, structure, borders, shape composition (i.e., presence of intralesional structures) were investigated along with objective measurements such as thickness (i.e., maximum distance between the surface of the epidermis and the deepest part of the tumor) and wideness. Results A total of 117 BCC of superficial (n = 13; 11.1%), nodular (n = 64; 54.5%), infiltrative (n = 17; 14.5%), mixed subtype (n = 18; 16.1%) and other subtypes (n = 2; 1.8%) were examined. The most frequently observed UHFUS parameters included: hypoechoic signal (80/117, 68.4%, p < 0.0001), homogeneous structure (76/117, 65%, p = 0.012), well-defined borders (77/117, 65.8%, p = 0.0006) and elongated shape (71/117, 60.7%, p < 0.0001). An excellent correlation was found between the BCC thickness measured by UHFUS and the value estimated by histology (interclass correlation – ICC > 0.8). Conclusions UHFUS is a new rapid and easy non-invasive skin imaging technique able to provide data on the dimension and morphology of BCC in real-time and at bed-site. These characteristics makes UHFUS useful in a plethora of possible application, ranging from the pre-surgical mapping to the detection of disease recurrence to the treatment monitoring.

Reliability of Ultrasonographic Assessment of Depth of Invasion and Tumor Thickness in Intraoral Mucosa Lesions: A Preliminary Experience

“…The use of high-frequency intraoral ultrasonographic examination of the oral mucosa remains relatively uncommon in many healthcare centers. However, both our study and the existing literature have demonstrated its promising potential [44][45][46][47]. Our research aimed to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of high-frequency ultrasound (HFUS) in assessing TT and DOI in oral cavity lesions.…”

Coupling tensile test with LC-OCT and ultrasound imaging: investigation of the skin sublayers mechanical behaviour

“…The cross-sectional area was calculated from the width l corresponding to the size of the pads ( true0 l = 42 thinmathspace normalm normalm ; §2.1) and the skin thickness e affected by the extension. An extension test coupled with ultrasound and LC-OCT imaging was conducted to observe the thickness e [21–24]. This thickness is 1.2 mm, down to the hypodermis.…”

Imaging the Micron: New Directions in Diagnosis with Ultra-High-Frequency Ultrasound

“…The good correspondence between UHFUS and histology may improve the surgical treatment of these lesions, increasing the capability to obtain clear resection margins, which is of utmost importance in prognosis and in recurrence prevention. However, it should not be forgotten that UHFUS, combined with dermoscopy, can also prove beneficial in the diagnostic work-up of non-melanoma skin tumors [20][21][22].…”

“…In these patients, nerve fiber hypertrophy as well as absent or impaired ganglia are observed as a result of an anomaly in neural crest cell migration during fetal development [42]. While the gold standard for diagnosis is rectal suction biopsy, it has been hypothesized that ultrasonography may help to rule out the presence of the disease [22]. Erlöv et al (Contributor 8) employed UHFUS to study the bowel wall in Hirschsprung's disease to assess the thickness of bowel wall layers.…”