title: The use of A-scan ultrasound in the assessment of small skin tumours.
abstract: This study describes the use of A-scan ultrasound for the measurement and characterization of tumour tissue in small skin tumours--basal cell carcinoma, melanocytic naevus, hypertrophic scars and intraepidermal epithelioma. Assessment of the A-scan traces by measurement of: (i) the amplitude of echoes within the area of interest; (ii) the density (number per unit depth) of these echoes; (iii) the regularity of spacing and amplitude of the echoes, and (iv) the amplitude of echoes beneath the area of interest, was used to assist in the differential diagnosis. The results show significant differences in echo amplitude between all the tumours and normal skin. When the tumour A-scan traces were analysed the results indicated that the best discriminating feature between tumours was that of amplitude, followed by regularity, density, non-normalized thickness and finally amplitude of echoes from beneath the tumour. Ultrasound-derived skin thickness measurements were compared to histological measurements for the lesions, and an excellent correlation was found (r = 0.96). It was considered that the A-scan ultrasound investigation of small tumours of the skin was able to provide information on the nature of the tissues contained and may assist in their differential diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, University of Wales College of Medicine, Cardiff, U.K.
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Edwards
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: al-Aboosi
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Marks
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002277:Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis; D002280:Basal Cell Carcinoma / Q000175:diagnosis; D002921:Cicatrix / Q000473:pathology; D003937:Diagnosis, Differential; D005350:Fibroma / Q000175:diagnosis; D006801:Humans; D006984:Hypertrophy / Q000175:diagnosis; D008875:Middle Aged; D009508:Nevus, Pigmented / Q000175:diagnosis; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000473:pathology; D014463:Ultrasonography