Malignant melanoma: impact of superficial US on management.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the impact of superficial ultrasonography (US) on clinical management of melanoma.


METHODS
Superficial US in areas at high risk for local recurrence or nodal metastases was performed in 33 patients with cutaneous melanoma. Impact categories were assigned to each US study (n = 55): category 3, US added information that altered clinical management; category 2, US added information that did not change management; category 1, no added information and management unchanged; category 0, not helpful or was misleading.


RESULTS
Twenty-two US studies (40%) were category 3: detection of nonpalpable metastases altered surgical therapy (n = 2), demonstration of pharmacodynamic response to chemotherapy (n = 5), and determination of benignancy or malignancy (n = 15). Nine (16%) were category 2: identification of nonpalpable metastases did not alter management. Twenty-two (40%) were category 1: supported clinical impression of no metastases (n = 18) or helped confirm cutaneous, subcutaneous, or nodal metastases (n = 4). Two (4%) were category 0: missed proved metastases.


CONCLUSIONS
Superficial US affected management of melanoma by allowing detection and characterization of masses, guidance of biopsy, and assessment of pharmacodynamic response.
Nazarian
L N
LN
Department of Radiology, Thomas Jefferson University Hospital, Philadelphia, PA 19107-5244, USA.
Alexander
A A
AA
Rawool
N M
NM
Kurtz
A B
AB
Maguire
H C
HC
Mastrangelo
M J
MJ
D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis; D008297:Male; D008545:Melanoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000628:therapy; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000556:secondary / Q000628:therapy; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D014463:Ultrasonography